Syrian Detainees Held in Iraq Return to Spotlight After Zaidan’s Damascus Visit

The plight of Syrian detainees transferred from prisons formerly run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to Iraq has resurfaced following a high-level visit by Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council President, Judge Faiq Zaidan, to Damascus.

During his talks with Syrian officials, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Zaidan focused on the cases of these detainees. Many relatives of those accused of ISIS affiliation insist their family members were arrested by the SDF based on politically motivated charges, particularly for opposing ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. They are now renewing their calls for the detainees' return to Syria, a thorough review of their charges, and the release of anyone found to be unjustly held.

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They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.

Ibrahim Abbas, whose nephews were arrested by the SDF in 2017 for their alleged opposition to Assad, shared his anguish. He stated that his nephews, who had no connection to ISIS, were arrested when they were 20 and are now nearly 30. He recounted how they were initially held at al-Malikiyah prison before being transferred to Qamishli prison and subsequently included in lists for transfer to Iraq during a U.S. Central Command-led operation. Abbas is demanding their return to Syria for proper prosecution if guilt is established, or release if no evidence is found.

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They were 20 years old when they were arrested and are now nearly 30.

In mid-February, Iraq's Justice Ministry revealed that 3,543 Syrian ISIS prisoners had been transferred to Iraq from SDF-run facilities. Syrian activist Suheb al-Yaarobi indicated that progress on the detainees' return had been underway but was hampered by regional tensions. He echoed the sentiment that some detainees were imprisoned on "malicious" accusations by the SDF before being classified as ISIS members and sent to Iraq.

Both Baghdad and Damascus reportedly desire the prisoners' return, but a critical challenge is the insufficient capacity of detention facilities within Syria. Judge Laith Jabr, head of Iraq’s Judicial Supervision Authority, confirmed that Zaidan's discussions in Damascus centered on the Syrian detainees' legal status. He noted that Iraqi authorities had conducted judicial investigations and ensured legal safeguards. The two nations have agreed to establish joint judicial committees to address the detainees' trials, signaling a step toward resolving this complex issue.

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