Mohammed Haydar Zammar

Mohammad Haydar Zammar

Mohammad Zammar is a Syrian born German national and is 44 years old.

Zammar left Syria when he was about four years old, and then lived in Germany where he obtained citizenship. He reportedly lived in Hamburg.

Zammar was arrested in Morocco in October or November 2001, then secretly transferred to Damascus, Syria, where he was interrogated by Syrian authorities, with American knowledge.

Although US officials were not been able to interrogate Zammar, American submitted questions to the Syrians.

When the German government learnee of the arrest and transfer, it strongly protested the move.

After Zammar's arrival in Syria, according to a former fellow prisoner, Zammar was tortured in the Far' Falastin, or "Palestine Branch," detention center in Damascus.  The centre is run by military intelligence and reportedly is a place "where many prisoners remain held incommunicado."

In the "Palestine Branch" prison, Zammar was locked up in cell number thirteen. According to Amnesty International, the cell measures 185 cm long, 90 cm wide and less than two meters high.  Zammar is about two metres' tall himself, and so was unable either to lie down or to stand up properly.

The underground cells are referred to as "tombs" or "graves" by the detainees and prison guards, where conditions are said to be appalling.

In an Amnesty appeal dated October 2004, it was stated that It was believed that Zammar hadhad no visits from family or friends, nor had access to a lawyer.

It was also mentioned that Zammar was known to have been a very well-built man at the time of his arrest, but was now "skeletal". The significant amount of weight he lost was believed to be a result of extremely poor diet, the very unhealthy conditions of detention, and lack of any medical care.

In October 2004, Zammar "disappeared" from his solitary confinement cell in Damascus where he had been held without charge for about three years.

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The “Disappearance” of Muhammad Haydar Zammar