Families of SDF Detainees in Damascus Demand Disclosure of Fate and Immediate Release

Welat TV – Erbil

Hundreds of relatives and family members of detainees from the Syrian Democratic Forces held by the Syrian government took to the streets in multiple cities and towns across Kurdistan Syria, staging protests and sit-ins to demand clarification of their loved ones’ fate and their immediate release.

Widespread demonstrations were reported in Qamishlo, Hasaka, and Derik, where participants raised clear demands calling on relevant authorities to assume responsibility and expedite the resolution of the detainees’ file, particularly amid the continued delay in implementing a prisoner exchange agreement between Damascus and the SDF.

One protester stressed the urgent need for intervention by international bodies and human rights organizations to put an end to the suffering of families and to work toward the swift return of detainees.

Protesters also voiced strong condemnation of what they described as widespread silence surrounding the case of prisoners and detainees, noting the prolonged duration of their detention despite an agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF that included provisions for mutual releases.

Several participants emphasized that the issue extends beyond the families of detainees, describing it as a broader humanitarian concern. They called on residents across different cities and regions to join daily protests and mass gatherings to amplify their voices and increase pressure for the release of detainees.

Mothers and wives of the detainees also spoke of their ongoing suffering over the past three months as they searched for missing relatives without obtaining any information or positive updates regarding their fate, appealing to all concerned parties for immediate intervention to resolve the issue.

According to available estimates, more than 1,000 individuals have been detained or captured by Syrian government forces during recent clashes with the SDF, in addition to hundreds reported missing.

Despite the release of a limited number of detainees from both sides following the January 29 agreement, the fate of hundreds remains unknown.