Panorama prison in north-east Syria houses around 4,500 men, mostly suspected IS fighters, under harsh conditions. Many are unaware of the political landscape outside, with the risk of IS resurgence looming as the Assad regime weakens. The lack of repatriation efforts for foreign nationals raises human rights concerns, with detainees suffering from mistreatment and indefinite detention without trial.
In Panorama prison, located in north-east Syria, approximately 4,500 men await uncertain fates after six years since the fall of the Islamic State’s (IS) caliphate. Prisoners assert they are disconnected from the outside world, unaware of significant political changes, while guards maintain stringent control, fearing retaliation against their families. The prison’s dire conditions and lack of access to information have left these detainees in limbo, reflecting the international community’s neglect of their predicament.
The presence of US troops in Syria is now ambiguous, and countries like the UK and Australia are largely ignoring their foreign nationals held in detention. The Kurdish-led authorities are expressing alarm over IS’s potential resurgence, particularly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which has created a security vacuum in northern Syria. This allows IS to reclaim territory and organize, specifically targeting facilities housing former fighters.
Kurdish officials hold approximately 65,000 suspects, including many foreign nationals, with calls from rights groups urging their repatriation. Conditions in such detention centers are reportedly dire, characterized by unlawful detention and life-threatening environments, posing a challenge for the Kurdish administration, which lacks proper trial systems for these individuals. Experts warn that IS may exploit fragile security conditions to free their imprisoned comrades.
The prison director acknowledges the resurgence of IS’s ideology among inmates, which intensifies fear of a breakout. Some detainees, despite generally denying connections to IS, recount harrowing detentions, such as Muhammad Saqib Raza, a British-Pakistani doctor, who claims to have just been a victim of circumstance. Meanwhile, Mustafa Hajj-Obeid, an Australian detainee, candidly admits his former involvement with IS and expresses remorse.
Underneath the surface, allegations of mistreatment within the prison have emerged, with reports of water deprivation and physical torture noted by human rights organizations. Ultimately, many detainees face indefinite detention without trial, raising ethical concerns about international complicity in these injustices. “When people kill people in Britain, they are put on trial, it goes under the system of justice. But here, why not? Why don’t you bring us to trial?” – Muhammad Saqib Raza.
The situation in Panorama prison illustrates the dire consequences of unresolved conflict in Syria, where thousands remain detained without due process. Inadequate conditions and lack of information contribute to a growing sense of hopelessness among prisoners while the potential for IS’s re-emergence poses significant risks. The international community’s neglect of these detainees raises critical ethical questions about human rights and accountability as conditions worsen in the region.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
