Children of ISIS Fighters in "In Prison Because of Our Parents"

[Social Media]

 

In northeastern Syria, children of ISIS fighters are grappling with a harsh reality: growing up behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Many of these young individuals, like Stefan Uterloo, find themselves in detention simply because of their parents' actions. At just 14, Uterloo was blindfolded and questioned by American officials. Now, at 19, he remains in Panorama, a maximum-security prison funded by the US-led coalition against ISIS and operated by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia. He shares his confinement with 25 other young men in a single cell.

 

 

Uterloo is among an estimated 600 boys and young men detained in Panorama, part of a larger group of nearly 4,000 ISIS male detainees. These young people, many brought to Syria by their parents to live under ISIS rule, now face an uncertain future. "I don’t know about the big guys," Uterloo said. "But if you’re speaking about the kids, and if you want to know the truth, we don’t even know why we are always punished. It’s like five years in this prison ... We don’t even know what we’ve done. We’ve been in prison because of our parents."

 

 

The United Nations and various human rights organizations have long sounded the alarm about the humanitarian and legal crises faced by the children of ISIS fighters. Despite this, there is little consensus on how to handle their situation. As the US raises concerns about ISIS attempting to reestablish itself and launch attacks on the West, there is a renewed push to repatriate fighters and their families to their home countries for justice.

 

Amnesty International estimates that approximately 30,000 children are currently held in at least 27 detention facilities and two camps—Al-Hol and Al-Roj—in northeastern Syria. This represents the highest concentration of children arbitrarily detained and deprived of their freedom globally. In a rare instance, CNN was granted access to these detention facilities, including Panorama prison. Amnesty International recently accused the SDF of holding detainees in "inhumane conditions," citing reports of torture and inadequate food and medical care, leading to a severe tuberculosis outbreak. The SDF disputes these claims. Mazloum Abdi, the SDF's top commander, stated that the allegations "are not mirroring the reality."

 

 

During CNN's visit, detainees in the supervised cells appeared to be in decent physical condition, housed in clean, air-conditioned spaces. However, tuberculosis remains rampant, causing five deaths per month, and coughing could be heard throughout the hallways. Officials acknowledged that detainees spend up to 23 hours per day in their cells and are held indefinitely without charge. Advocacy groups argue that this situation creates "a legal black hole," potentially worse than the US' Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

 

The broader issue extends to Al-Hol, a sprawling detention camp housing over 40,000 people, including individuals with ISIS affiliations and displaced persons. In a high-security annex, around 6,700 women and children with links to ISIS fighters are detained, many from over 60 countries. More than half of Al-Hol's population are children, the majority under 12 years old. The camp poses significant security risks. Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of the US military's Central Command, described Al-Hol as "a ticking time bomb," warning that it is "a breeding ground for the next generation of ISIS."

 

Efforts to repatriate detainees from Syria have been slow. The population of Al-Hol has decreased by 42% from its peak of over 73,000 in 2019, but the process remains sluggish. Many detainees hail from countries outside the US-led coalition, such as Russia and China, complicating repatriation efforts. At the current pace, it could take at least seven more years to halve the camp's population.

 

To mitigate the radicalization risk, the SDF has implemented a policy of separating boys at age 14 from their mothers, placing them in rehabilitation centers. However, children as young as 11 have been found in these facilities, suggesting that the policy may be applied more broadly. Former UN Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin condemned this practice, stating, "It runs us into the area of a war crime."

 

Compared to Al-Hol, the Orkesh rehabilitation center offers better conditions, with rooms, meals, and psychological support. Shamil Chakar, a teenager from Germany, recounted his violent separation from his mother in Al-Hol and his subsequent detention in Orkesh. Despite missing their families, detainees in Orkesh benefit from improved living conditions and support services.

 

Repatriation efforts offer a glimmer of hope for some detainees. In May, American Brandy Salman and her nine children were repatriated from Al-Roj camp. However, others, like Hoda Muthana, an American-born woman who joined ISIS, remain in limbo. Muthana, whose US citizenship was revoked, lives in fear for her son's future as he approaches the age for forced separation. Her legal team continues to push for her and her son's repatriation, but the US government maintains that she is not a citizen.

 

Muthana expressed her desperation to return to the US, even if it means facing imprisonment. "If I had any time to serve, I would serve it and I would come out and begin my life with my son," she told CNN. "If I were to have the choice between American prison and this camp, I would choose an American prison any day."

 

The plight of these children and young adults underscores the complex humanitarian and legal challenges in dealing with the remnants of ISIS. As the world grapples with how to address these issues, the children of ISIS fighters continue to bear the consequences of their parents' actions, trapped in a cycle of detention and uncertainty.

 

 

Credit: CNN 2024-06-14

 

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[Purdey]

How to create new terrorists 101.

[cncltd1973]

will the taliban take them?

[The Old Bull]

Get them women out of those sacks and into some proper clothes. It would go a long way in improving their image as not being associated with ISIS.

[Foexie]

monkey see monkey do i guess. Also with isis because where would they learn otherwise!!!

[still kicking]

On 6/16/2024 at 1:20 AM, The Old Bull said:

Get them women out of those sacks and into some proper clothes. It would go a long way in improving their image as not being associated with ISIS.