Panorama prison continues to detain 4,500 suspected IS fighters years after the group’s defeat, with inmates largely unaware of global events. As the Assad regime collapses, IS is reportedly rebuilding, posing a renewed threat. Human rights organizations criticize the detention conditions, calling for the repatriation of foreign nationals. The situation raises significant concerns regarding justice and human rights violations among the detainees.
The pervasive odor from dozens of men emanated from the small hatch of Panorama prison’s heavy iron door, where gaunt prisoners in brown jumpsuits sat on worn mattresses. Six years after the fall of the Islamic State’s caliphate, the 4,500 men imprisoned here remain largely unaware of the ongoing changes in the external world. For instance, Muhammad Saqib Raza, a British-Pakistani physician accused of being an IS fighter, expressed ignorance about current events, including the identity of the U.S. president.
Prison officials are apprehensive about inmates learning that Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power in Syria, avoiding discussions that might incite unrest. Inside the prison, contraband such as weapons and mobile devices is strictly prohibited, with guards wearing balaclavas to protect their identities. The global community appears to have forgotten about the thousands of alleged IS fighters detained, yet experts caution that IS has not forgotten them.
The future presence of U.S. troops in Syria is uncertain, while countries like the UK and Australia have largely ignored the situation, stripping alleged fighters of citizenship and refusing to repatriate their nationals. As the Assad regime collapses, Kurdish officials warn of an increasing IS threat, which is attempting to exploit the ensuing security void. The director of the Panorama prison noted that IS is progressively stabilizing itself and prioritizing an assault on the facility.
Currently, Kurdish authorities detain approximately 65,000 suspects, including about 42,000 foreigners, in various facilities across northeastern Syria. Human rights organizations have consistently implored governments to repatriate their nationals. Detainees are held under perilous conditions that have been declared unlawful by advocacy groups. Prison officials fear an attack on detention centers by IS, thus necessitating vigilance.
The prison governor’s office overlooks a facility that endured a severe attack in 2022, in which hundreds of IS prisoners escaped. The drama that unfolded during that incursion, which led to significant casualties, remains fresh in the minds of officials. Raza, expressing skepticism about the threat posed by his fellow inmates, identified them as non-threatening individuals.
Some prisoners, however, have confessed past affiliations with IS. Mustafa Hajj-Obeid, an Australian captured after being presumed missing, expressed remorse for his involvement with the group. Despite detainees remaining uncharged and untried, they endure harsh conditions, with various reports of mistreatment emerging from the prison.
Prison conditions remain dire, with access to essentials like water frequently curtailed as punishment. Outbreaks of tuberculosis have left many inmates in dire health, prompting international watchdogs to raise alarm regarding potential human rights abuses. The prison director acknowledged the challenges faced due to inadequate resources, while experts assert that governments may share complicity in the unjust detention of their citizens.
Raza highlighted the disparity in justice, questioning why those accused abroad had not been afforded trials akin to those in Britain. His inquiries were abruptly silenced when a guard concluded the visit, showcasing the oppressive atmosphere within the prison.
Prominent figures like Baderkhan Ahmad have contributed reports illuminating these realities, underlining the complex crises faced by these detainees, which may include complicity in systemic rights violations.
In conclusion, the situation in Panorama prison epitomizes the ongoing struggle surrounding detentions of alleged IS fighters in Syria. Despite the world’s focus shifting away from these individuals, they remain trapped in perilous conditions without proper legal recourse or acknowledgment from their home countries. With the security landscape shifting due to the collapse of the Assad regime, there lies an increasing risk of resurgence from IS, underscoring the urgency for immediate international action. Human rights concerns persist, calling attention to the fundamental principles of justice that seem neglected in this context.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
