Warning: This report includes descriptions of violence, rape and torture and may be distressing for some readers.
Ghannoum, 40, described himself as 'a young revolutionary' during the Syrian uprising of 2011 when citizens rose against the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Working alongside figures such as Firas Al-Khaldi, a member of the Cairo Platform and the Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC), Ghannoum joined a group of Syrian families delivering aid and support across various regions.
Ghannoum said he was 28 years old when the Syrian Air Force Intelligence arrested him for participating in demonstrations in Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo - the latter two being closer to the Syrian-Turkey border.
"The reason for my arrest was my participation in protests against the Assad government,” he said.
The is an umbrella body representing various Syrian opposition groups, including the Cairo Platform.
The Bashar al-Assad government fell in December 2024 after 23 years of reign.
Assad ordered brutal crackdowns on dissent that began after the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011. It sparked a civil war that killed more than 500,000 people and displaced half the population.
Ghannoum said after witnessing the suppression and violence against protesters, his youth-based community group worked to alleviate the pressure on the Syrian community by delivering bread and medicine to besieged areas.
“The former Syrian regime ruled through fear,” he said.
"We, as educated and civilised Syrians, were surrounded by a dictatorial system determined to keep us subdued,” he added.
Ghannoum said he was arrested - his eyes and head covered - in late October 2012 by the Air Force Intelligence and transported to a military prison in Aleppo.
"I was beaten, thrown into a car, and taken to the prison. They didn’t interrogate me," he said.
Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans as they celebrate during the second day of the takeover of Damascus by insurgents in early December 2024. Source: AP / Hussein Malla/AP/AAP Image
"I endured unimaginable torture, with beatings and (suspension in which our) body weight strained our legs, causing excruciating pain and other abuse lasting for extended periods," he added.
Ghannoum said the prison conditions were atrocious.
"Many detainees died due to torture or medical neglect. We were crammed into a dark cell with no light and forced to drink sewage water because clean water was unavailable," he claimed.
"In our small cell, there were 117 detainees. Many lived in subhuman conditions. I saw three people die from torture, their bodies discarded in front of us. The sight was horrifying, and we prayed for mercy from such brutal circumstances."
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Further, he claimed the cruelty extended beyond his imprisonment to his family.
His father and uncle were both detained for searching for him and attempting to secure his release.
Old man's daughter raped ‘in next room’
Ghannoum said one of the most harrowing incidents in the prison was when a father aged in his sixties was brought in with his adult daughter.
"They had been travelling to Aleppo for Eid Al-Adha celebrations, accidentally took a wrong turn and were arrested at a checkpoint," he said.
"They subjected him to horrific abuse. He was placed in a room where he could hear his daughter’s screams as she was raped in the next cell."
The father banged his head against the walls, crying out, 'Kill me, but don’t make me hear this!'Sam Ghannoum
SBS Arabic could not independently verify Sam Ghannoum's claims.
Ghannoum said he was eventually freed after his family paid "large bribes to high-ranking officers".
Released on 16 December 2012, he fled to Lebanon and was granted asylum in Australia in 2014.
Syrian opposition fighters drive by an abandoned Syrian army armoured vehicle on a highway on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, southwest of Aleppo. Source: AP / Ghaith Alsayed/AP
"But this is a safe and beautiful country, with kind people. I began from scratch, yet I am grateful to God for the security I have here. We now live in better conditions and I thank God for what we have," he said.
He now lives in Melbourne with his wife and young daughter and works in construction and manufacturing.
The Assad government was overthrown in a lightning offensive by insurgent forces led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in December last year.
declared the end of Assad's rule after spearheading an operation that secured control of Aleppo.
Reflecting on recent events in Syria, he said: "I anticipated change, but not in this way. Many nations conspired against the Syrian people, yet the hope for freedom remains alive among the youth."
"Despite everything, seeing the heroes in Aleppo reclaim their freedom brought us immense joy. We followed their journey closely, supporting them on the ground and in the virtual space.
"Though the horrors of detention still haunt me, and fear and sadness linger, the sight of our people celebrating freedom consoles me.
"The changes in Syria, though gradual and painful, are undoubtedly better than the oppression we endured for decades. I pray that Syria will soon be truly free."
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