Syrian General Intelligence Branch 251

Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Branch 251 (Arabic: إدارة المخابرات العامة الفرع الداخلي (251)), also known as internal branch or Al-Khatib branch,[1][2][3] is the unit of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate concerned with internal security. It has been responsible for security in the Damascus region.[4] Branch 251 operates Al-Khatib prison, a detention and torture center located in the Muhajreen neighborhood in central Damascus.

Anwar Raslan, the former Syrian colonel who was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison in Germany, commanded a unit in Branch 251.[5]

  1. ^ "Center for Documentation of Violations in Syria - Report on Khateeb Branch- State Security". www.vdc-sy.info. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  2. ^ "Torture and death: Life in al-Khateeb detention center". Syria Direct. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  3. ^ "'Physical evidence' of killings presented at Syrian officials' trial in Germany". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  4. ^ "Two Syrian Intelligence Officers Charged with Committing Crimes Against Humanity". The Syrian Observer. 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  5. ^ "German court to issue verdict against former Syrian intelligence officer". the Guardian. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-05-14.