Amnesty International has reported widespread abuse in Syrian detention facilities holding suspected Islamic State members and their relatives. The facilities are operated by local authorities affiliated with the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The centers and camps hold about 56,000 people, including mostly children and teens, and have been found to engage in various human rights violations, including torture and deprivation of medical care. The issue of what to do with suspected IS fighters and their families has become complex, with many countries reluctant to repatriate them.
The report from Amnesty International highlighted the conditions faced by detainees accused of IS affiliation, who are being held indefinitely without charge or trial in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. The group interviewed 126 individuals currently or formerly detained, as well as representatives of the local administration and aid workers. The alleged abuses in the detention facilities ranged from physical violence to gender-based violence, including reports of sexual assault by guards. Many detainees were deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care, resulting in some deaths.
The vast majority of the 14,500 women and 30,000 children held in the facilities had been victims of human trafficking, including forced marriages to IS fighters and forced recruitment of minors by the group. The local authorities were criticized for failing to identify trafficking victims and protect them. Amnesty also raised concerns about the practice of separating adolescent boys from their mothers and placing them in rehabilitation centers indefinitely. The organization called on local authorities, the U.S. government, and other allies to bring the detention system into compliance with international law and establish a screening process to release those not suspected of serious crimes.
In response to the Amnesty report, the Autonomous Authorities of the North and East Syria Region denied allegations of torture in detention facilities, stating that they had not received any official complaints and would take action against any employees found to have committed violations. The administration acknowledged overcrowding in the facilities but attributed it to lack of financial resources. It disputed the claim that detainees were arbitrarily held, asserting that most were members of a terrorist organization arrested during battles and accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The U.S. State Department stated that it shares many of Amnesty’s concerns and has been working to address them. It called on the international community to assist local entities in managing the challenges posed by the detention facilities. The State Department also urged countries with citizens held in detention in Syria to repatriate them. Amnesty criticized the U.S. for its role in establishing and maintaining the detention system, stating that Washington likely knew about the poor conditions and needs to accept greater responsibility. The organization emphasized the importance of bringing the detention system into compliance with international law and protecting the rights of detainees.
