Residents of Saydnaya, a historic city situated north of Damascus and renowned as a significant pilgrimage destination for Christians, are urging media and official entities to cease referring to the infamous military prison located en route to their city as “Saydnaya Prison.” They argue that this designation is geographically inaccurate and tarnishes the reputation of a site celebrated for its ancient sanctity.
Understanding the Misnomer
The facility that has sparked this controversy is officially known as the First Military Prison, an establishment overseen by the Syrian Ministry of Defence, positioned approximately 30 kilometers north of Damascus and outside the jurisdiction of Saydnaya itself. Originally constructed during the regime of Hafez al-Assad and expanded under his son Bashar al-Assad, the prison once housed between 10,000 and 20,000 inmates and gained notoriety worldwide for its systematic torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, international media outlets began to refer to it predominantly as “Saydnaya Prison,” a term that locals contend misrepresents their city.
“Many media outlets removed the word ‘prison’ and just said ‘Saydnaya’, as if the town itself is a prison. This is completely false,” Bassam Habib Andraos, the mayor of the city’s first neighborhood, stated.
A Community’s Identity at Stake
Mahmoud Pasmana, a resident of Saydnaya, also voiced his concerns, emphasizing that the so-called “Saydnaya Prison” is not actually within the city limits but rather situated along the road leading to it. He asserted, “Ascribing it to us is an injustice.” Saydnaya is perched over 1,400 meters above sea level in the Qalamoun Mountains and is celebrated for housing the Monastery of Our Lady of Saydnaya, established in the early 7th century and regarded by many Christians as the second most vital pilgrimage site after Jerusalem.
The city boasts a diverse population of Christians and Muslims, well-known for its cultural and religious harmony. Jamil Daher, a local resident, remarked, “Saidnaya has a long history. There are no sects here — we are all from one place, and this is deeply rooted in us since our ancestors. We look after one another.” He highlighted the community’s reliance on small-scale agriculture, such as vineyards and almond farming, alongside a notable number of educated professionals. However, residents are grappling with soaring living costs, including electricity bills that have surged by as much as 600%, set against an average public-sector salary of around $100 a month, which Daher described as “unreasonable.”
Daher elaborated that the ongoing naming dispute exacerbates the already challenging living conditions faced by the community. “Saidnaya has been wronged because of a single issue — the prison. The media should make it clear that the prison is not on Saidnaya’s land and has no connection to it,” he said. He emphasized the city’s rich heritage, stating, “Everything nearby gets named after it because of its fame, but this prison is far from us and unjustly associated with us. It is a prison of terror, pure and simple.”
George Murad, the head of the Saydnaya municipal council, highlighted the inclusive nature of the town’s religious institutions, noting that the churches, mosques, and schools affiliated with the monastery cater to residents of all faiths, including those displaced from neighboring villages. Although religious tourism, which had previously bolstered the local economy, has seen a significant decline due to the ongoing conflict, Murad expresses hope for its revival.
Samaan Maamar, who heads the parish council at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, noted that pilgrims continue to visit the monastery to view a miraculous icon associated with John the Baptist. “Saydnaya is known globally, not just in Syria,” he affirmed. “We are made up of Christians and Muslims living together as one family in all our contexts.”
The community leaders have brought this issue to the attention of Syria’s transitional authorities. Andraos mentioned that a delegation had met with the new governor of Rural Damascus, Amer al-Sheikh, to discuss the renaming of the prison and its potential future uses. The transitional government has suggested that the facility might be repurposed as a museum or hospital, with the crucial stipulation that it should never be referred to as Saydnaya.