“We, as educated and civilised Syrians, were surrounded by a dictatorial system determined to keep us subdued,” he added.

“I was beaten, thrown into a car, and taken to the prison. They didn’t interrogate me,” he said.

Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans as they celebrate during the second day of the takeover of Damascus by insurgents in early December 2024. Source: AP / Hussein Malla/AP/AAP Image

“They poured boiling water mixed with sugar on my back, leaving severe burns.

“In our small cell, there were 117 detainees. Many lived in subhuman conditions. I saw three people die from torture, their bodies discarded in front of us. The sight was horrifying, and we prayed for mercy from such brutal circumstances.”

His father and uncle were both detained for searching for him and attempting to secure his release. 

Old man’s daughter raped ‘in next room’

“They subjected him to horrific abuse. He was placed in a room where he could hear his daughter’s screams as she was raped in the next cell.”

Released on 16 December 2012, he fled to Lebanon and was granted asylum in Australia in 2014.

Syrian opposition fighters drive by an abandoned Syrian army armoured vehicle on a highway on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, southwest of Aleppo. Source: AP / Ghaith Alsayed/AP

Ghannoum said starting again in Australia was challenging at first.

He now lives in Melbourne with his wife and young daughter and works in construction and manufacturing.