Saydnaya

Apart from a vague satellite photo on Google Earth, there are no pictures of the notorious Syrian prison Saydnaya, around 30 kilometers north of Damascus. Visits are forbidden, and organizations such as Amnesty International and the Red Cross are denied access. To the outside world, the prison is an impenetrable black hole, and the recollections of former prisoners are the only source of information. Amnesty International, in coproduction with Forensic Architecture, has used their testimony to create a virtual 3-D reconstruction of the torture prison. Because the inmates are usually kept in darkness and are blindfolded when they are moved from one wing to another, sound is central to the reconstruction. It creates an impression of everyday existence in a living hell, and the result is shockingly successful. Shudder as you explore this recreation of a horrific reality.