afrinpost-Exclusive
In an exclusive interview with Rudaw TV, a Kurdish woman recently released from detention shed light on the harrowing circumstances within the prisons operated by Turkish forces and allied militias and their security apparatus.
Hailing from the village of Meydan Akbas in the Rajo district, the woman, identified as “Helen Ahmed Mohammed,” shared her ordeal, having been confined to a prison under a security institution’s jurisdiction, distinct from those operated by SNA militias. Charged with alleged ties to a terrorist organization, a common pretext for arrests under the their criteria, Helen offered a glimpse into the grim realities faced by detainees.
Helen recounted, “My two children, aged eight and six, were with me during my detention, and they stayed with me for a week. Afterward, the person in charge of the prison informed me that my children were innocent, so they were allowed to leave the prison with someone who could take care of them outside. Thus, they were released from detention.”
Describing the prison administration as an autonomous entity, Helen highlighted the arbitrary nature of arrests and the lack of legal recourse for detainees. She cited instances where detainees were coerced into false confessions upon arrival at the prison, underscoring systemic violations of due process.
Helen revealed the pervasive influence of financial incentives, with families compelled to pay substantial sums for information on their loved ones’ whereabouts. Legal representation was scant, with lawyers prohibited from intervening on behalf of detainees, leaving families to navigate a labyrinth of bureaucracy in pursuit of justice.
Regarding the treatment of women detainees, Helen lamented the absence of compassion for maternal circumstances, citing instances of pregnant women and new mothers being subjected to inhumane conditions within the prison facilities. She recounted instances of torture and mistreatment endured by female detainees, including one woman reportedly held for six years without trial.
As the interview drew to a close, Helen underscored the urgent need for international intervention to address the systemic abuses within militia-run prisons and to secure the release of unjustly detained individuals. Her testimony serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afrin, demanding swift action and accountability from the international community.
It is worth mentioning that the citizen, “Helen Ahmed Mohammed,” was arrested by the “Military Police” militia in April 2023 with her two children, upon her return from Aleppo, the destination of her displacement. Her family could not find out her place of detention, and she was denied visitation and the appointment of a lawyer. She was charged with having connections with a terrorist organization, based on her husband’s affiliation with the Autonomous Administration, even though he lost his life during the aggression on Afrin. In early July 2023, Helen’s family appealed to human rights organizations and the international community to intervene and reveal her fate.
