Branch 251 (Al-Khatib)

Branch 251, known as Al-Khatib, was a detention and interrogation facility of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate located in the Al-Khatib neighborhood of Damascus. It became one of the primary processing centers for the mass detention of protesters and activists after 2011. Its head of interrogations, Anwar Raslan, was convicted of crimes against humanity by a German court in 2022. Survivors described systematic rape, electric shock torture, stress positions, and starvation as standard interrogation practice.

Notable Events

• ▸Site of Anwar Raslan's command (2011–2012)
• ▸Koblenz trial evidence (2020–2022)
• ▸Opened by rebel forces December 2024

Known Officials

• ◆Anwar Raslan (Head of Interrogations, convicted)
• ◆Hussam al-Luqa (former director)
• ◆Tawfiq Younes (former director)