They hear its faint sound

The events of the novel revolve around a doctor named Iyad Asaad, who is detained for thirteen years in prisons without any real charge against him, as he is accused of belonging to a terrorist cell. The events of the novel are merely a portrayal of Iyad's personal life inside the prisons, and a depiction of the scenes he saw, which are hard for a person to believe. Prisoners are stripped of their humanity, and they live through the worst experiences a person can endure, such as torture parties, the execution of prisoners, and the spread of diseases like cholera among the inmates due to the poor living conditions around them. The main character witnesses the loss of concepts of dignity and humanity, and also suffers from severe psychological conflict. The main character tries to escape from prison, but he is soon re-arrested, and his foot is shot.