Amnesty International has uncovered widespread abuses in detention facilities in northeast Syria, where thousands of suspected Islamic State members and their relatives are being held. These centers and camps, managed by local authorities affiliated with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, house around 56,000 individuals, the majority of whom are children and teenagers.
The detainees are facing severe violations of their rights, including torture, deprivation of medical care, and being held indefinitely without charge or trial. Many have allegedly been convicted based on confessions obtained under torture. The reported abuses range from beatings and electric shocks to gender-based violence, with some detainees even claiming to have been subjected to extreme forms of torture such as sodomy with broomsticks.
Amnesty International's report also highlights the lack of proper mechanisms to identify and protect victims of human trafficking among the detainees. Women forced to marry IS fighters and children forcibly recruited by the group are among those held in these facilities.
The Autonomous Authorities of the North and East Syria Region, in response to the allegations, denied claims of systematic torture and deprivation of basic necessities. They attributed overcrowding in the facilities to financial constraints and maintained that most detainees are members of a terrorist organization who were arrested during battles.
The U.S. State Department acknowledged the concerns raised by Amnesty International and called on the international community to assist in managing the challenges posed by the detention system. It also urged countries with citizens held in Syria to repatriate them.
Amnesty International has called for local authorities, the U.S. government, and other allies to ensure compliance with international law in the treatment of detainees. They have also urged the United Nations to establish a screening process to release those not reasonably suspected of serious crimes.
The situation in these detention facilities remains a pressing human rights issue, with calls for greater accountability and action to address the reported violations.
