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Aleppo Anti-Torture Protest Ends Amid Security Restrictions; Participants: We Do Not Want Assad-Era Practices Repeated
Aleppo – A protest was held in Saadallah al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo on Monday by a group of Aleppo revolution activists to denounce torture and violations in prisons, amid a heavy security presence and restrictions imposed on participants and attendees.
According to statements from participants, the invitation was circulated to dozens of people through a WhatsApp group that, they said, included members of the Aleppo Internal Security leadership. This led them to believe that security authorities were aware in advance of the protest’s timing and purpose.
Participants said security personnel initially prevented the gathering from taking place for approximately 15 minutes, citing the lack of an official permit. They also reported receiving direct and indirect warnings and intimidation. During that period, some participants contacted the Internal Security leadership to obtain official authorization for the protest.
The demonstration was later allowed to proceed on the condition that it last no longer than 15 minutes, according to the participants. They said security personnel surrounded the protesters and prevented passersby from approaching or viewing the banners and learning the reasons behind the demonstration. Some people who had come to participate were also prevented from joining the gathering.
Participants expressed their frustration with the way the protest was handled, describing the incident as “shocking and disappointing.” They said the security response was inconsistent with their hopes of building a security apparatus that respects freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest in a new Syria.
Participants also said that a woman was summoned to the Aleppo Internal Security headquarters after security personnel allegedly told her that she had to accompany them to what they described as “military security.” According to their account, the purpose was for her to meet Abu Hudhaifa, the head of Internal Security in Aleppo. The request was later withdrawn after several people intervened to defuse the situation.
The woman said that one of the security personnel addressed her at the beginning of the gathering by saying that he would not speak to her because she was a woman. She considered the remark indicative of the persistence of attitudes that contradict the principles of the revolution and citizens’ rights.
One participant, a former detainee in Syrian regime prisons, said he felt distressed after being followed while carrying the protest banners. He said he felt he was being monitored simply for taking part in the demonstration.
Participants also reported that a drone flew over the protest site and filmed the gathering, although it was unclear whether it belonged to a media or security entity. They also noted the absence of public relations officials from the Aleppo Internal Security leadership, who, they said, had previously served as intermediaries between security agencies and civil society.
The organizers stressed that the protest was not directed against state institutions or security personnel. Rather, it was intended to express opposition to torture, killings, and arbitrary detention inside prisons. They called for confronting violations to become part of the process of building the new state.
Participants said that overcoming the legacy of the Assad era requires more than changing appearances or replacing individuals. It also requires changing security practices and authoritarian attitudes, guaranteeing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and maintaining hope that officials and employees will work to build a state that respects freedom and human dignity.
The incident raises questions about the mechanisms governing peaceful protests in areas controlled by the transitional government and the extent to which security agencies are committed to protecting citizens’ right to express themselves—particularly when their demands concern opposition to torture and violations inside detention centers.
