Background

Despite broad interest of the Syrian refugee plight in the academic and media circles, there are still limited studies analyzing the lived experiences of torture survivors under the Syrian regime. This qualitative study interviewed torture survivors to examine the form and function of the Syrian regime's security apparatus, and the personal aftermath of survivors.

Methods

Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted in Arabic with Syrian refugees who endured torture. Study participants were at least 19 years of age, resided as refugees in Jordan, and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Participation was anonymous and no incentives were provided. Only oral consent was required. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and translated to English, and then analyzed for repetitive themes utilizing the narrative approach.

Results

Major themes were observed across three experience-phases: pre-captivity, during captivity, and post-captivity. The pre-captivity phase included two sub-themes: the Syrian regime's initial detection and arrest system, and the intelligence system. The captivity phase was also divided into two sub-themes: environmental conditions in detention facilities, and torture methods including physical and psychological torture. Some of the environmental conditions in detention facilities included lack of sanitation, crowding, starvation, and withholding of medical care. Torture methods encompassed beatings, electric shocks, nail-pulling, hanging, drowning, suffocation, rape, and the witnessing of killing, sexual assault, or torture of others. The post-captivity phase included their release from captivity, escaping Syria, and post-displacement conditions and activism.

Conclusions

The Syrian regime employs a vast security apparatus to track, detain, interrogate, torture, and subjugate its civilian population. A systematic mechanism commences even before captivity and continues for years after release, with negative implications on the well-being of survivors, their families, and the Syrian people as a collective community. The Syrian war saw a shift toward mass detention, torture as a form of social punishment, subjugation, and indeterminate imprisonment. Intervention agencies, host countries, and policymakers must be informed of survivors' experiences to better address their needs. Moreover, the international community must advocate for a firm stance against torture, demand justice, and prosecute all parties engaged in perpetuating such extreme forms of suffering and trauma.

Background: The impact on the physical and mental health of those who survived torture and their close circles in the Syrian regimes detention facilities remains under-studied.Objective: This qualitative study explored Syrian refugees narrations of captivity and torture, and the consequences of such extreme traumatic events on their physical and psychosocial health.Method: Thirteen audio-recorded interviews were conducted in Arabic with Syrian refugees. Study participants were at least 19 years of age, resided in diverse urban areas of Jordan, had experienced captivity and torture in Syrian detention facilities, and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Participation was anonymous, only oral consent was required, and no incentives were provided to participants. Interviews were transcribed and translated into English by a team of researchers, followed by analysis of repetitive themes according to the narrative paradigm.Results: Analysis of interviews elicited three major themes: extreme traumatic experiences of torture, and its physical and psychosocial health consequences. The first major theme was divided into two sub-themes: torture experienced by the participants themselves, and torture experienced by participants close circles. The second major theme, pertaining to physical health, was divided into two sub-themes: acute and chronic health sequelae. The third major theme, related to psychosocial health, was divided into four sub-themes: mental health symptomatology, impacts on professional life, impacts on interpersonal relationships, and social consequences.Conclusions: Torture experiences of Syrian refugees had adverse consequences for the physical and psychosocial health, functioning, and the overall well-being of survivors and their close circles. Interventions may seek to improve both the acute and chronic health consequences, as well as the mental health symptoms and associated impacts on livelihood, professional, and relationship dynamics. They should span clinical, legal, and advocacy spheres, given that a holistic approach may contribute immensely to survivors healing process.