In a classroom in a former school this week, at least 40 adult men sat barefoot on cushions on the crowded floor in front of the teacher’s chalkboard. They bore shaven heads and hid their faces as armed men showed visiting journalists the room. “They are shabiha,” said one of the armed men, referring to Syria’s much-feared pro-government militia.
Syrian rebels from the Tawheed (Unity) Brigade converted the school, which houses at least 112 detainees, into a makeshift detention months ago. The pro-government prisoners were captured in various locations in Syria. The location of the school has not been identified for security reasons.
