Ragheed al-Tatari

Ragheed Ahmed al-Tatari (; born 25 December 1954) is a former military aviator from Syria, recognized as the longest-serving political prisoner in the country. His arrest by Syrian intelligence occurred in 1981, following his refusal to engage in the bombing of Hama and his subsequent flight to Jordan. Since that time, he has been detained in multiple correctional facilities administered by the Assad regime in Syria. After enduring approximately 43 years of imprisonment, he was ultimately freed on 8 December 2024.

Early career Ragheed al-Tatari was born on 25 December 1954, in Damascus, to a Syrian father and a Syrian mother of Circassian origin. Hence he is a cousin of the famous Circassian Syrian Islamic scholar Jawdat Said Tsey. He commenced his studies at the Air Force Academy in 1972 and successfully graduated in 1975. Following his graduation, he served in a number of air force squadrons.

Arrest and trial In 1980, Ragheed al-Tatari faced prosecution in court for his refusal to partake in a bombing operation in Hama alongside his fellow servicemen. Although he was ultimately acquitted, he was dismissed from military service. Following this, he resided in Jordan for a period of eight months before proceeding to Egypt, where he sought political asylum; however, his application was ultimately rejected. In 1981, in the wake of the political upheaval following the assassination of Egyptian President Sadat, he was forced to return to Syria. Subsequently, al-Tatari and his associates were arrested and detained by the Air Force Intelligence Directorate. For several years thereafter, there was no communication from him to his wife or any other individuals.

Detention Ragheed al-Tatari endured confinement in several military prisons throughout his detention, spending three years in Mezzeh prison, sixteen years in Tadmor prison, and eleven years in Sednaya Prison. Following the commencement of the Syrian revolutionary uprising in 2011, the regime escalated its repression, resulting in the arrest of thousands of demonstrators and a subsequent reorganization of the prison population. During this tumultuous period, numerous radical Islamists were released, while al-Tatari was transferred to the civilian facility of Adra. In response to the conditions of his confinement, he declined to don the prison uniform mandated by the Adra authorities, a decision that led to the prohibition of family visits.

The Association of Detainees and Missing Persons of Sednaya Prison described him as the longest-serving political prisoner globally. Notably, Waël did not have the opportunity to meet his father until the year 2005.

He was ultimately released on 8 December 2024, subsequent to the capture of Damascus by Syrian opposition forces. His incarceration lasted for approximately 43 years.