"I am very happy that he's alive"

Sounds poaitive to me.

"I've heard a lot about what happens there"

How much of that is truth and how much is hearsay, rumors or a product of the Al Qaeda handbook:

"Lesson Eighteen
PRISONS AND DETENTION CENTERS

2. Complain [to the court] of mistreatment while in prison. "

What have we "heard" about other prisons like the ones in Syria?