Source: Amnesty International –
Following repeated rounds of fighting between the Syrian authorities and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the military wing of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), in north-east Syria, and responding to the transfer of control to the Syrian authorities over some detention facilities and camps holding people suspected of affiliation to the Islamic State (IS), Amnesty International’s, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Kristine Beckerle, said:
“The Syrian authorities, in coordination with AANES, must carry out a human-rights compliant screening process in detention facilities and camps they now control. They should identify those who should be investigated and prosecuted for crimes under international law or serious crimes under domestic law, those who should be repatriated, if appropriate, and prosecuted in their countries of origin, and those who should be released. National proceedings should meet international fair trial standards and be without recourse to the death penalty.”
Amnesty International reiterates its calls for all parties to the recent fighting to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians do not pay the price of another political breakdown in Syria.
Kristine Beckerle, Amnesty International
“The Syrian authorities and the AANES must also urgently secure and preserve evidence of crimes under international law committed by IS, including sites of atrocities and mass graves and documentary evidence in detention facilities. Evidence of crimes left behind will be essential to establish the fate and whereabouts of the Syrians who have been disappeared by IS, as well as investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
“Repeated rounds of fighting in Syria have had devastating impacts on civilians. Amnesty International reiterates its calls for all parties to the recent fighting to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians do not pay the price of another political breakdown in Syria.”