Nearly 18,000 died in Syria state jails, Amnesty says, allegations of beatings and rape

Nearly 18,000 people died in government custody in Syria between 2011-15, an Amnesty International report says, alleging beatings and rape in prisons.

Amnesty said its document includes interviews with 65 "torture survivors", who have described appalling abuse in jails and detention centres.

The report - "It breaks the human: Torture, disease and death in Syria's prisons" - was released by Amnesty on Thursday.

Amnesty estimates that more than 17,723 people died in custody across Syria between March 2011, when the uprising against President Bashar Assad began, and December 2015.

This is about 10 people each day, or more than 300 a month, Amnesty said.

“Detainees are often subjected to severe beatings by prison guards upon after their arrival at a prison. This abuse is known as a welcome party," the group said. “This is frequently often followed by security checks, during which women in particular reported being raped and sexually assaulted by male guards,” Amnesty added.

"For decades, Syrian government forces have used torture as a means to crush their opponents," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther said.

"Today, it is being carried out as part of a systematic and widespread attack directed against anyone suspected of opposing the government in the civilian population and amounts to crimes against humanity," he added.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denied such allegations.