Riyad Hamdan al-Ali

Riyad Hamdan al-Ali is the head of a family of seven and works as a concrete
carpenter. He was arrested by ISIS in 2015 for keeping a rifle in his home, and was
accused of fighting against ISIS during the Shaitat tribe battles in Deir ez-Zor. He
denied this allegation.
At the entrance of the Halawa Prison, where ISIS once detained him, Riyad recalls
the first moments of his arrest, describing how he was isolated from the other
prisoners because ISIS had wanted him specifically. He was taken directly for
interrogation on the upper floor.
In his account, Riyad explains the layout of the two-story prison, noting that the
ground floor was designated for group cells and solitary cells, while the
investigation rooms were on the upper floor. He points out that this prison was
for temporary detention, and that prisoners were later transferred to another
facility.
Riyad states that when he entered the cell, there were around 60 prisoners there.
He recalls encountering his brother among them.

Riyad underwent interrogation only once. The interrogators focused on accusing
him of supplying weapons to the factions fighting ISIS. He was also questioned
about the names of the most notable fighters involved in the Shaitat battles.
Riyad insisted on denying his involvement, stating that he had sold the rifle he
owned earlier.
Riyad says that he was punched, slapped, and whipped with water hoses. He
heard of other torture methods too, such as detainees being suspended by their
limbs hours or even days at a time. According to Riyad, the sounds of torture on
the upper floor frequently reached the detainees on the ground floor, and he
asserts that the torture was more of a vengeful practice than a means to extract
information.
Regarding the jailers, the witness notes that they were always masked to conceal
their true identities, and that they were constantly changed. He points out that
they all used noms de guerre instead of their real names, such as "Abu Ubaidah,"
"Abu Hajar," and "Abu al-Baraa." Riyad was unaware of the distinctions between
titles like "emir," "wali," and others, and he mentions that visits were not allowed.
The witness also talks about the daily life of the prisoners in the two group cells
where he was held, noting that each group cell contained sponge mattresses and
blankets. He specifies the location of his sleeping area and the kitchen where they
ate.
Regarding hygiene, Riyad states that water was available in the prison, but only
cold water. This was the case even for showers. Nonetheless, the prisoners were
able to rinse the floor of the cell and to wash cooking and food utensils using
dishwashing liquid. The bathroom was separated from the group cell only by a
curtain, which deprived the prisoners of privacy.
According to the witness, healthcare was not adequate, as medicines were
sourced from whatever ISIS seized from pharmacies. The prisoners only received a
bag of medicines, from which experienced inmates would select the appropriate
medication for those in need.

As for his release from Halawa prison, Riyad recounts that it was accompanied by
psychological torture. Two guards ordered him to kneel, making him feel that he
was about to be executed. Instead, they transported him by car to an area near
his home, where they released him. This incident created one of the severe
psychological impacts left by his eleven days in ISIS prisons.