Al-Hol residents protest for release and fair trials of SDF-held detainees

Protest in al-Hol

On March 27, residents of al-Hol in al-Hasakah governorate staged a demonstration demanding the release of relatives held in Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prisons and an end to arbitrary detention. Protesters raised slogans against prolonged detention without trials or transparent legal procedures, calling the situation an urgent humanitarian issue affecting thousands of families. Demonstrators — including parents speaking under pseudonyms such as Mohammad and Rafaa — said relatives have been held for years with no confirmed information about their fate, leaving families in constant anxiety and insisting on either immediate release or fair, public trials.

Political context and recent steps

Families urged that the detainee file be prioritized in any political or administrative settlements and called on international rights groups to monitor conditions and ensure humane treatment. The demonstrations come amid reciprocal moves between the Syrian government and the SDF, including March exchanges that freed dozens to hundreds of detainees, the preparation of lists by both sides, an expanded meeting to discuss the issue, and a general amnesty announced by the Autonomous Administration that covers some categories under specific conditions. Protesters say the matter is primarily humanitarian and must be resolved comprehensively with guarantees against further arbitrary detention, as reported by Enab Baladi