Syrian Refugee Recounts His Ordeal As Prisoner Of War

By Ismail Amsyar Mohd Said This is the last of a two part series on the Syrian refugees who arrived in Malaysia in late May. This second and last part focuses on the ordeal underwent by a Syrian while under the detention of the security forces. KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- Beaten with iron pipes, hands and legs tied behind and suspended from the ceiling for several days, and worst still given electric shocks at the private part using a teaser. "The last one was the worst for me and I said to myself its better to die. I just want to escape from all this torture." This is the dark chapter underwent by A. Kassah, 32, while he was taken prisoner by the Syrian army. It is heart wrenching to hear of the pain that he and the other members of the Syrian community had to endure. I was tortured because I am a Sunni Muslim from the Daraya district, where the Sunnis were the majority and the ones who started the demonstration against corrupt officials," he said to Bernama. That's not all. Kassah was accused of being a terrorist who attempted to drive an armoured vehicle into a building, other than killing Syrian President Basir Al Assad's soldiers. The claim sounded like a joke to him, but this is the one that brought torture to Kassah. A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION "I was detained at the end of 2013 in Damsyik, in the Daraya district. At that time we were holding a peaceful demonstration where we presented flowers and drinks to the soldiers manning the place. "However, our actions and intentions were considered a threat. The security personnel started firing at us and as I was running for cover I attempted to help an injured protester. "It was when I attempted to carry the injured protester, the soldiers caught both of us," he said recalling the events leading to his detention. IT WAS SUFFOCATING IN PRISON Kassah is not alone in facing the brutality of the Syrian soldiers. According to him, the prison conditions were horrific with the cells meant for one prisoner holding up to nine prisoners. "Its like the lift that we were in just now. This was how big the prison cell was. In fact, there were a few who died of suffocation in the cell," he said describing the size of the cells. "There were even cells as small as 3 meter x 3 meter, where up to 80 people were incarcerated. The same happens to detainees of the opposite sex," he added. THE FOUR DIFFICULT DAYS While he languished in prison, his wife and two kids fled to the village where they put up with Kassah's parents until Kassah was released at the end of 2014. When pressed on why he was released, Kassah replied: "My elder brother paid US$2,000 to the military court judge to secure my release. "However, I was not a totally free man yet. The judge said I could only be out for four days and have to return to the prison after that." Within that four days I rushed back to the village to be with my family, and that is when I decided to flee with my family to Lebanon. "When I failed to report back to prison four days later, the security forces jailed two of my elder brothers. There are in prison now to protect me... I'm not sure if they are still alive," he said almost crying. MALAYSIA PROVIDES A NEW HOPE War not only makes people more brutal and vile, but also sets them without any direction in life. This is what could be described of the situation in Syria. "The Syria then was different. Whole families could eat for US$1 (RM4.10) per day. However, when the civil war broke out, prices shot up to six times higher. Even US$1,000 (RM4,100) a month will not suffice for the family expenditure at present. He pointed out the families of the jailed husband or father often lived hands to mouth. They even resorted to eating leaves or scavenge at dump sites. Kassah is happy that he and his family managed to see the light at the end of the tunnel as they have managed to reach the Malaysian shores. "Me and my family are taken by the Malaysian hospitality. I'm happy that Malaysians have received us with open arms. "I hope my children will enjoy good education and will grow up to become doctors and Syariah experts. Right now, I' m looking for a good job to help my family members in Syria," he explained. POST-WAR TRAUMA Meanwhile, Chairman of the Malaysia Humanitarian Aid and Relief (Mahar) Jismi Johari said most of the Syrian migrants who arrived on May 28 have started to adapt with the new environment. According to Jismi, most of the migrants did not realise they are experiencing post-war trauma and those who realise this problem often ignore it. “As you know during Ramadan, we in Malaysia play all kinds of firework and it is normal for us. There was this one time, the residents in the neighbouring apartment played fireworks. “The migrants were stunned and scared with the sound of the fireworks, thinking that there was war going on and they were being attacked. Our volunteers and officers had to calm them down and explain about the fireworks. “Not only the children could not sleep, but the adults too. They are psychologically affected by the war and we cannot imagine what have they been through. It must have been tough,” he explained. -- BERNAMA