Palestinian Imprisoned in Syria for 43 Years Without Charge
Palestinian Man Released After 43 Years in Syrian Prison
walid Barkat,a Palestinian man,has been released from a Syrian prison after spending 43 years behind bars without a clear charge. Barkat, now 67, was arrested at Damascus airport in 1982 at the age of 25. He described his arrest as “inhumane” and recounted being transferred between several notorious Syrian prisons over the decades.
In an interview with the palestinian news website Al-asima, Barkat revealed the agonizing details of his ordeal. ”The trial was a sham,” he said. “I didn’t know the details, and I wasn’t informed of the verdict until 30 years after my arrest.”
Barkat was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment. He endured years of torture and hardship, spending time in the infamous saidnaya prison near Damascus, known for its brutal conditions.”It’s tough to describe what happened inside,” he said of Saidnaya, before being transferred to Adra prison.
Despite the unimaginable suffering, Barkat clung to hope. “I was close to death many times due to the torture,” he shared, “but I constantly hoped that I woudl one day embrace freedom.”
Tragically, Barkat’s long imprisonment meant missing out on crucial moments with his family. Upon his release, he learned that his parents and siblings had passed away during his time in prison.
Barkat’s story is a stark reminder of the human cost of prolonged detention and the importance of due process and fair trials.
Palestinian Man released After 43 Years in Syrian Prison: An Interview with Walid Barkat
NewsDirectory3.com: Mr. Barkat, welcome. After 43 years in Syrian prisons, you’re finally free. Can you tell us about the moment you were released?
Walid Barkat: It was surreal. Shock, disbelief, confusion – those were the first emotions that washed over me.After so long, freedom felt like a foreign concept.
NewsDirectory3.com: You were arrested in 1982 at the age of 25. Can you describe the circumstances of yoru arrest?
Walid Barkat: It was utterly inhumane. I was apprehended at damascus airport.No charges were ever clearly presented.
NewsDirectory3.com: You spent over four decades in Syrian prisons. Could you describe the conditions you endured?
Walid Barkat: The trial itself was a sham. I didn’t understand the charges, and I wasn’t even told the verdict until 30 years after my arrest. The sentence was life imprisonment. Saidnaya Prison, notorious for its brutality, was one of the places I was sent. Words fail to capture the horrors experienced within those walls. After Saidnaya,I was transferred to Adra prison.
NewsDirectory3.com: You mentioned torture. What was that like?
Walid Barkat: The torture was unbearable. I was brought close to death many times.
NewsDirectory3.com: Despite all this, you held onto hope?
Walid Barkat: Hope was what kept me going. It was a flickering candle in the darkness, but it was enough to sustain me.
NewsDirectory3.com: Now that you are free, how are you adjusting?
Walid Barkat: It’s a mixed bag of emotions. the joy of freedom is tempered by immense grief. I learned upon my release that both my parents and siblings had passed away during my imprisonment. Missing out on those years with my family is a pain I carry deeply.
NewsDirectory3.com: Your story is a powerful testament to human resilience. What message do you hope people will take away from your experience?
Walid Barkat: The most critically important thing is to remember the human cost of prolonged detention without due process. Everyone deserves a fair trial and humane treatment.