Iraq: Security Reshuffle Reaches Green Zone Command
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- Iraq and Syria are discussing the legal status and potential return of 3,543 Syrian detainees transferred to Iraq from SDF-run prisons.
- Relatives claim some detainees were arrested by SDF for political opposition to Bashar al-Assad, not for ISIS ties, and demand their return and review of charges.
- Both Baghdad and Damascus aim to return the prisoners, but a lack of Syrian detention facilities poses a challenge, though joint judicial committees are to be established.
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council President Judge Faiq Zaidan visited Damascus last week for talks with Syrian officials, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, focusing on the cases of Syrian detainees transferred to Iraq from prisons formerly run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.
Relatives of some detainees, who insist their family members had no ties to ISIS and were arrested by the SDF over politically motivated allegations, have renewed calls for their return to Syria. They are demanding a review of the charges and the release of those whose guilt cannot be established.
Ibrahim Abbas, whose nephews were arrested in 2017 and are now nearly 30, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the SDF arrested them because of their opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He maintained they had no connection to ISIS. The SDF included them in lists of ISIS prisoners for transfer to Iraq when requested by the international coalition.
They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.
Syrian activist Suheb al-Yaarobi noted that coordination between Damascus and Baghdad over the detainees' return was advancing before being disrupted by regional tensions. He stated that some detainees had no connection to ISIS and were imprisoned by the SDF on "malicious" accusations before being classified as ISIS members and transferred to Iraq. Both Baghdad and Damascus want the prisoners returned, but a key obstacle is the lack of detention facilities in Syria.
They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.
Judge Laith Jabr, head of Iraq’s Judicial Supervision Authority, confirmed that Zaidan's talks focused on the Syrian detainees and their legal status. He added that Iraqi authorities had conducted judicial investigations and provided all legal safeguards. The two sides agreed to establish joint judicial committees that will meet regularly to resolve issues related to the detainees' trials.
They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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