169 cases of arrests, torture and enforced disappearances by Syrian Kurdish forces

Syrian Kurdish forces have been accused of serious human rights violations by a UK based rights group.

The Syrian Network of Human Rights (SNHR) alleged that the Kurdish self-management forces, which is a branch of the designated terrorist group, Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK), has been involved in arbitrary arrest, abduction, enforced disappearance and torture.

The network called for the opening of an immediate investigation and accountability of those involved in these crimes in public trials, and to stop the enforced disappearance and use of torture against political and military opponents.

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According to SNHR, the PKK targeted activists, dissidents and political oppositions. Since the beginning of the year, the network has documented at least 169 cases of arrests, torture and enforced disappearances that targeting activists, dissidents and political critics in areas controlled by the organisation. Of those, 72 have been released and 97 remain in the hands of Kurdish forces.

Prisoners released by Kurdish forces spoke to SNHR about the conditions under which they were kept. The detention centres lack the most basic necessities; medical care, water, food and sanitation, making them ideal conditions for disease, said the prisoners. Moreover the detainees are alleged to have been denied an attorney, and their families were said to have been granted limited visitations.

In their statement yesterday, SNHR pointed out that most of the families of the detainees were not informed of the capture or the whereabouts of their loved ones, while accusing Kurdish forces of torturing their captives.