AANES says minors at ISIS prison in Raqqa treated under international standards
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Prison Administration of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration said on Sunday that al-Aqtan Prison in the countryside of Raqqa, northern Syria, had housed minors who were treated in accordance with international standards.
The statement comes after clashes erupted around the prison between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which had fortified positions days earlier, and forces of the Syrian transitional government.
The SDF later withdrew under an understanding brokered by the Global Coalition. Subsequent video footage showing children inside the prison sparked public questions about their presence and the charges against them.
In its statement, the Prison Administration said that a designated section of al-Aqtan Prison in Raqqa had held a number of juveniles. Some were involved in various crimes for which formal complaints had been filed by citizens, while others had fallen victim to recruitment and exploitation by the Islamic State (ISIS).
The administration said the minors had been transferred three months earlier from a juvenile detention facility to al-Aqtan Prison due to security conditions.
It added that during their detention, the minors received special treatment in line with international standards, including access to comprehensive rehabilitation programs aimed at behavioral reform, psychological and social support, and ensuring their proper reintegration into society after completing their sentences.