Social media users mourn Syrian activist Mazen al-Hamada

Social media has been flooded with tributes and expressions of grief from rights activists and the Syrian diaspora after a renowned Syrian activist, who had been tortured under Bashar al-Assad's government, was found dead in the notorious Sednaya prison on Monday.

Mazen al-Hamada was found with visible signs of torture in the morgue of Harasta Hospital, which the government used to collect the bodies of those killed in the prison, known as a "human slaughterhouse", before they were transferred to mass graves.

Hundreds of social media users shared messages of mourning, with many stating they felt the international community had failed him.

"Mazen, we all failed you. Mazen, I am so sorry, I am so sorry this world is so filthy. I am sorry your eyes never stopped tearing for all these years," wrote Celine Kasem, a Syrian activist, on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"The photo of his tortured body is enough to trigger a 1000 revolution [sic]. He will forever remain one of Syria’s bravest heroes," wrote another user.

In a widely shared interview with the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Hamada had detailed the horrors he endured in Syria's detention centres and the government's systematic use of torture.

Warning: The following image may cause distress.

بعد المطابقة بين الصور تم التأكد من أستشهاد الناشط السوري الأخ والصديق #مازن_حمادة أبن مدينة #ديرالزور تحت التعذيب في سجون نظام الأسد رحمة الله عليك يا مازن ولاحول ولاقوة إلا بالله #سجون_الأسد #سجناء_صيدنايا #صيدنايا_المسلخ_البشري #صيدنايا #دمشق #سوريا pic.twitter.com/dkLpwhoWGb

— مهاب ناصر -Mohab Nasser (@Mohab_Nasser2) December 9, 2024

Translation: After matching the photos, it was confirmed that the Syrian activist, brother and friend #Mazen_Hamada, son of the city of #Deir Ezzor, was martyred under torture in the Assad regime’s prisons. May God have mercy on you, Mazen, and there is no power nor strength except with God

His testimony resonated globally as he described beatings, rape, starvation and relentless psychological abuse during his imprisonment.

One user wrote: "His story has stuck with me since the day I heard it, and I can't believe it's ended like this. He deserved so much better."

I am distraught at the photo of Mazen Al Hamada tortured and killed, this is Assad and his regime and what they did to these innocent ppl. & you still have assadists who are defending the haywan bashar & others claiming sednaya prison is a lot “nicer” than American prisons.

— ف (@qamrallayl) December 9, 2024

Originally from Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, Hamada worked in the oil sector and was arrested several times during the early years of the Syrian uprising in 2011 and 2012.

After his release in 2014, Hamada sought refuge in the Netherlands, where he was granted asylum. From there, he dedicated his life to raising awareness about the government's rights abuses and the brutal tactics it used in prisons.

He travelled across Europe and the United States, recounting the horrors he witnessed and endured, even participating in international efforts to prosecute the Assad government.

Fuck Assad. I will never forget listening to the testimony of Mazen Al-Hamada, who detailed obscene abuse, including rectal torture, by the regime. He was imprisoned for protesting during the Arab Spring and spoke about how prisoners would be terrified of being transferred to the… pic.twitter.com/VdqImDQah5

— Aidan Kathleen (@realslimaidy) November 29, 2024

Mazen described being hung from the ceiling by chains that left grooves in his wrists, and beatings and torture by guards who broke his ribs by jumping on his body and burnt his skin with cigarette butts. His testimony also detailed sexual abuse, rape and being subjected to electric shocks.

He returned to Syria in 2020 for unclear reasons. He said he had been "assured" that he was not on a government wanted list.

But he was arrested upon his return and forcibly disappeared. There had been no further information about him until the fall of the Assad government on Sunday and the subsequent search operations in Sednaya, which primarily held political prisoners.

"Although Mazen al-Hamada's voice has been silenced, he still bears witness today to the brutality of the regime. His eyes underline every word he says," reflected one social media user.

Others referenced Hamada's vow to hold the Syrian government accountable for its abuses.

"I will not rest until I see them in court, even if it costs me my life. I will chase them, I will prosecute them, no matter the price," he said in the Syrian Emergency Task Force interview.

Some said they hoped to carry on his wishes.

"Mazen had told his harrowing story of torture in cities around the world in the hopes of changing policy," said human rights lawyer Mai El-Sadany. "I pray we'll continue his journey."