Syrian detainees in Lebanon have announced the launch of a specialized news outlet to highlight their plight and bring attention to conditions inside the country’s overcrowded prisons. The agency, called the Syrian Detainees News Agency in Lebanon, or SDNAL, describes itself as “a media agency specialized in producing press and news content related to Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons,” according to a statement shared on its social media accounts.
The group said the platform aims to “communicate the voice of Syrian detainees in Lebanon to the media in a professional manner, away from misinformation or intimidation,” and relies on sources both inside and outside detention facilities.
Media Work Inside Prison Walls
Despite operating under confinement, detainees say they are able to produce a range of media. A contributor identified only as D.C. said from inside prison that SDNAL creates “a variety of media products” including news reports, features, interviews, documentaries, and podcasts. Another contributor, identified as M., emphasized that the agency seeks to act as a professional institution, not just a social media account, working with volunteers outside prison to produce content.
“The aim is to enhance the media presence of the file of Syrian detainees in Lebanon in general, and the detainees of the Syrian revolution in particular,” M. said. The detainees added that SDNAL hopes to be recognized as a reliable source on prison news in Lebanon, maintaining what they called the standards of professional journalism.
Calls for Fair Coverage
Umar al-Atrash, spokesman for Syrian prisoners in Roumieh Prison, welcomed the launch of the agency, calling it a chance to counter politically driven coverage. “The media space, especially the Syrian, Lebanese, Arab and international in general, is hungry for reliable press content that reflects the suffering of the detainees and tells their stories, away from the conflicting political agendas that may be adopted by some media outlets,” he told Al Jazeera. Atrash added that detainees require “media redress, such as their need for human rights justice,” hoping SDNAL will become a platform for their stories.
The launch of SDNAL comes as Syrian and Lebanese officials resume discussions over detainees. SANA reported that judicial and security committees from both countries met in Damascus to discuss detainee conditions and bilateral agreements.
According to the Associated Press, the two governments have agreed to form joint committees to examine the fate of roughly 2,000 Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, the search for Lebanese missing in Syria, and the unresolved border between the two countries. Lebanon’s Ministry of Justice confirmed that further meetings will be held in Beirut to continue discussions.
A Growing Crisis
Syrians account for over 30% of Lebanon’s prison population, with more than 80% of those detainees still awaiting trial, according to Lebanese official statistics. Amnesty International has previously reported cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and unfair trials of Syrians in Lebanon. Rights groups warn that deteriorating prison conditions, driven by overcrowding and Lebanon’s prolonged economic crisis, have intensified the suffering of detainees.
