afrinpost-exclusive
Reports have emerged of a mass escape from Al-Rai Prison, a detention center run by the Turkish-backed “Military Police” militia in northern Aleppo. While the exact number of escapees remains unclear, human rights organizations estimate that around 300 individuals, including pregnant women, managed to break free. Most of them are reportedly Kurdish detainees from Afrin, who have faced severe abuses at the hands of the Syrian National Army (SNA) militias.
The “Taa’zur” human rights organization, corroborated by Lelun Association, revealed that detainees at Al-Rai Prison broke locks and doors to flee the facility. The majority of the prisoners were Kurdish residents of Afrin, subjected to inhumane treatment and torture under the direct supervision of Turkish intelligence.
Al-Rai Prison is notorious for its brutal and illegal practices. Although the escape was successful for many, the organizations report that a significant number of detainees remain inside, unable to break through all the prison’s barriers. The prison has become a symbol of the ongoing suffering and systematic abuses faced by detainees in Turkish-backed militia-controlled areas.
So far, no information has been obtained about the current status or whereabouts of the escapees. There are fears that they may have been recaptured or become targets for further abductions. Efforts to contact the detainees or confirm their safety have yielded no results, leaving their fate uncertain.
Human rights groups and activists have called for immediate intervention to protect the freed detainees and ensure their safety. Organizations such as Taa’zur and Lelun Association for Victims have demanded accountability for the ongoing violations in Al-Rai Prison and other detention centers across the region. They also stressed the need for the immediate release of all detainees still held in militia-run facilities.
Additionally, they emphasized the importance of safeguarding the escapees from any retaliatory actions by the factions in control.
The situation in Afrin and the broader areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions remains dire. The continuous abuses represent clear violations of international humanitarian law and the rights of minority communities. Amid the ongoing collapse of central authority in Syria and the rise of Islamist factions, there is a pressing need for international organizations and governments to uphold their commitments to protecting minorities and addressing war crimes.
The escape from Al-Rai Prison has reignited calls for global attention to the human rights crisis in Afrin and other regions, highlighting the urgent need for justice and accountability.
