Families of Syrian prisoners have been streaming towards the prisons of the Assad regime, where tens of thousands were imprisoned and tortured for years. The doors have been prised upon - but there are fear many could be trapped in secret underground prisons. Our reporter is at the infamous Saydayna prison near Damascus, where crowds of relatives are looking for their loved ones.

Also in our programme: what could the future hold for Syria's government? The province of Idlib, which has been run by the country's main rebel group, might hold some clues; and we speak to the family of American journalist Austin Tice who was abducted in Syria twelve years ago.

(Photo: Syrians dig into the ground as they search for relatives they believe were held in secret cells at Sednaya prison, dubbed by Amnesty International as the 'Human Slaughterhouse'. Credit: Shutterstock / Mohammed Al Rifai)

Emotional scenes as political prisoners released in Syria 47:29 Share

Newshour

Shownotes Transcript

Emotional scenes as political prisoners released in Syria