In a moment of revelation, Syrian refugee Douna Haj Ahmed discovers the horrors her husband, Abdullah Al Nofal, endured during his imprisonment at Al-Khatib prison. As rebel forces oust Assad, Abdullah shares his painful journey with Douna, bringing forth stories of torture, survival, and the silence that has surrounded Syrian detainees.
The Unveiling of Trauma: A Syrian Refugee's Story of Survival
The Unveiling of Trauma: A Syrian Refugee's Story of Survival
Abdullah Al Nofal recounts his harrowing experiences in Al-Khatib prison as his wife Douna learns the full extent of his trauma for the first time.
In early December, Douna Haj Ahmed, a Syrian refugee in London, learned chilling truths about her husband’s past while watching news reports about prisoners escaping Syria’s oppressive regime. Her husband, Abdullah Al Nofal, sitting beside her, revealed for the first time that he had been arrested at Al-Khatib prison, widely referred to as "Hell on Earth."
Douna, who had already experienced personal loss during Syria's 13-year civil war, began to grasp the depths of Abdullah's suffering during his detention. "Abdullah does not like to share things emotionally," she noted, reflecting on the emotional toll of this moment. "I saw him weak. I saw him crying." She believes that this was a critical turning point for her husband, providing him a sense of closure and a new purpose: to ensure that the world hears the stories of suffering endured by Syrians.
Abdullah was arrested in July 2013 under harrowing circumstances while working in Damascus as a storekeeper for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Although he initially engaged in peaceful protests against Assad’s regime, he distanced himself as violence escalated. At a checkpoint, he was singled out, blindfolded, and forcibly taken away, ultimately enduring solitary confinement and severe beatings.
"It was so dark for three days... you feel so lonely," Abdullah recalled. His shocking account of Al-Khatib's conditions laid bare the ongoing brutality of Syrian detention centers, where almost 60,000 individuals were tortured and killed during the conflict, according to monitoring groups.
A historic trial in Germany recently confirmed the atrocities committed at Al-Khatib through the conviction of a Syrian colonel for crimes against humanity. Abdullah's terrifying experiences echoed the testimonies heard in court—detailing horrific acts of torture, sexual violence, and psychological torment that were standard in the regime’s prisons.
"Every minute it's like you're dying," Abdullah shared, describing the constant fear of torture among inmates. The memories of hearing others scream and witness horrific injuries left deep psychological scars. Deprived of human dignity and forced to concoct false narratives to survive, Abdullah's narrative encapsulates the chronic terror faced by detainees.
After a month, he was released, managing to escape Syria with his wife. They now reside in London, where Abdullah feels liberated to share his experiences, unearthing memories he kept hidden. "We finally finished with the regime; we can tell our full story," he proclaimed, a statement punctuated by his wife's emotional reaction.
Douna, a human rights activist, felt overwhelmed as she learned the extent of her husband’s ordeal for the first time. Each revelation leaves her disheartened but also determined to share the stories of countless others who perished without their voices being heard. "We are privileged," she reflected, acknowledging the importance of their narrative amidst ongoing injustices in Syria.
