In a significant move towards accountability for crimes committed during Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, Syrian security forces have arrested Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, a top military official accused of orchestrating mass executions at Sednaya prison. Under his oversight as director of the Military Justice Department and field court chief, thousands of young detainees reportedly faced execution at this infamous prison.
Recognized by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the arrest follows the discovery of documents in regime-controlled prisons. These materials provide conclusive evidence of the atrocities committed, listing 2,403 civilian deaths through torture, with SOHR reporting a total of 9,939 deaths due to torture and neglect in regime facilities.
Photographic evidence released by Syrian Security Forces depicts Kanjo during his arrest. Authorities are promising a public trial amid allegations of financial profiteering from detainees’ families. These developments come after the December 8 overthrow of the Assad regime, which saw thousands rushing to Sednaya prison to seek missing relatives. International investigations, such as those by Amnesty International, detail the systemic executions conducted there, with 50 detainees reportedly killed weekly during 2011-2015.
Furthermore, findings by the Violations Documentation Centre reveal widespread abuses, including mass executions, torture, and coercive disappearances at Sednaya. The Syrian authorities’ commitment to prosecuting those responsible for regime atrocities is under international scrutiny, signaling critical progress in achieving justice for victims of the Assad era.