Syria's longest-held political prisoner released after 43 years of detention
Al-Tatari's incarceration began in 1980 when he refused to follow military orders to bomb civilian areas in Hama during the city's protests.
Dec. 8, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - In a significant development marking the end of one of Syria's longest cases of political imprisonment, former Syrian Air Force pilot Ragheed al-Tatari has been freed after 43 years in detention, according to the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons of Saidnaya Prison.
Al-Tatari's incarceration began in 1980 when he refused to follow military orders to bomb civilian areas in Hama during the city's protests. His principled stance against carrying out these operations led to his immediate arrest and subsequent decades-long imprisonment.
The personal toll of his detention was particularly poignant: when he was arrested in 1981, his son Wael was still unborn. As a result, Al-Tatari missed his son's entire early childhood and many subsequent life milestones.
Throughout his 43-year imprisonment, Al-Tatari was transferred between various Syrian detention facilities before finally being held at the Central Prison of Tartous, where he remained until his release today.
This release comes amid the broader political changes currently unfolding in Syria, highlighting one of the many human stories emerging from the country's complex political history. The case of Al-Tatari stands as a stark reminder of the personal sacrifices made by individuals who chose to follow their conscience during critical moments in Syria's history.