Closing off al-Mazzeh prison and converting it into an institute for historical sciences
Syria, Politics, 11/20/2000

Well-informed sources told the Lebanese daily al-Safir in today's issue that the Syrian authorities has released a decision stating the closer of al-Mazze prison and to convert it into an institute for historical sciences.

This famous prison is situated on one of the hills of Damascus Southern west of Damascus. Its fame starts since the rule of Col. Hosni al-Zaem, by the end of the 1940 s and since then this prison reminds of its history which is inseparable from the history of coupes and the followed internal crises in Syria.

Al-Mezze prison is, however, the second archaeological prison closed off after the castle of Damascus by the beginning of the 1980s. The decision of releasing the 600 political prisoners made at a decision by President Bashar al-Assad last Thursday has no connection to closing this military prison which has started to suffer ailing structure. It will be renovated shortly to start new tasks.

Most of the Syrian leaders stayed in this prison and the last of those were prominent Syrian politicians who were convicted of corruption charges. The prison remained a symbol of the changes of fates and balances in the Syrian capital. In it slept were high ranking politicians.

Member of the Syrian parliament Munzir Mousalli told al-Safir that he spent in this prison for five years during which he started to make a research about it despite the fact that he in the year 1964 sent a memorandum to former Syrian leader Amin al-Hafez to close this prison and change it to a Casino.

Mouselli who was then the director of al-Hafez's office at that time said that "the prison at the time was evacuated and its walls were painted white. He added the events that took place later in the country necessitated to re-using it as it was before." He added that this prison is old and goes back to the days of the Crusaders and they " the Crusaders" used to go up to it on mules and that the French used is as "a prison for those who try to escape military services, noting the fame of this prison only flourished after " Hosni al-Zaem coupe who used it for the first time to jail those who opposed his coupe in 1949." Aftermath, the prison became the most famous prisons and was jailed in it were more than one Syrian President " Shukri al-Qiouwatli and Nazim al-Qudsi and more than one prime minister " Khaled al-Azem and Abdul karim Zaher Eddine.

Mouselli said that only two fleeing attempts succeeded in the prison.

The first was by Mahmoud Nuemeh, who was a Syrian nationalist ( of the Syrian social nationalist party) in 1957 and the second was Abdul Hamid al-Sarraj ( 1961).

The prison is distinguished for its position which is situated on a high hill overlooking the city of Damascus. Al-Mouselli added that " in regard of health, the place enjoys the best position and it fits to be a five- star hotel location.

Previous Stories:
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