SDF: Forming a fact-finding committee on the issue of missing persons

The General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces issued a statement to the public opinion, in which it said: “With the authority of the Presidency of the Kurdish National Council, a special fact-finding commission was established to investigate the missing persons issue.

The text of the statement:

Based on the initiative presented by the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces to unify the Kurdish discourse in Syria, and in the context of joint efforts to build confidence between the Kurdish political parties in Syria, the General Command in the forces of the SDF formed, and with the mandate of the presidency of the Kurdish National Council a special investigation committee, to investigate The facts in the case of the "ten missing persons", whose names were provided by the Presidency of the Council.

In December 15, 2019, the General Command received a list from the Presidency of the Kurdish National Council in Syria, which includes the names of the following ten missing persons, their names, and the date and place of their disappearance:

1- Jamil Omar / disappeared in Qamishlo / July 13, 2012

2- Behzad Dorson / disappeared in Dêrik / October 24, 2012

3- Nidal Othman / disappeared in Dêrik / October 24, 2012

4- Ahmed Othman Sidou / disappeared in Afrin / September 19, 2013

5- Ahmed Khalil Sino / disappeared in / October 11, 2013

6- Idris Alou / disappeared in Afrin / November 8, 2013

7- Shaaban Abdel Hamid Sheikho / disappeared in 15 November 2013

8- Amir Hamid / disappeared in Al-Darbasiyah / January 11, 2014

9- Fouad Ibrahim / disappeared in Dêrik / March 24, 2017

10- Saud Mizar Al-Essa / Detention: Ad-Darbasiyah / November 27, 2019

Immediately upon receiving the list, the investigation committee on this matter began its work, and after extensive investigations into the reasons for the disappearance of the individuals whose names are listed below, it became clear that (8) out of (10) names of the incoming disappeared in the stage of security chaos, the overlapping of areas of control on the ground, and the proliferation of terrorist cells and intelligence that was affiliated with local and regional parties.

Likewise, the first eight cases of disappearance preceded the formation of the Autonomous Administration and its institutions formally, that is, before the date of formation of the administration in January 21, 2014. Indeed, the first cases were before the formation of the YPG.

Despite the difficulties that the committee faced during the investigations, and the many changes that occurred on the scene, it is - that is, the committee-that was able to reach some details that would clarify the fate of some of the names mentioned in the list.

The preliminary findings of the Special Investigation Commission during its work showed that “Jamil Omar,” a former member of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), was kidnapped by the security services of the Syrian Central Government in an area it controlled in Qamishlo, while investigations also indicated that our military forces bear moral responsibility for the disappearance of "Amir Hamid" and "Fouad Ibrahim", where investigations are ongoing to reach the people who caused the disappearance of the two victims and hold them accountable.

In this regard, the families of the victims and the political parties concerned are informed of the results and details of the ongoing investigations to date, and the investigations also confirmed that “Saud Mizar Al-Issa” was detained by the General Security, and he was released in December 20, 2019.

The Special Investigation Commission has not yet been able to track any impact regarding the fate of Behzad Dorsen and Nidal Osman, and their disappearance in a region under the protection of the YPG, which places these forces and security forces "Asayiş" under the natural and administrative responsibility of their disappearance, and the investigation continues to reveal their fate it is a legal responsibility and a duty of our forces.

On the other hand, the committee was unable to investigate the fate of people who were registered missing in Afrin, due to the impossibility of reaching the land of Afrin and the investigation there, and the control of the occupied forces over the city, and other conditions and repercussions that accompanied this occupation.

We are in the Syrian Democratic Forces, as we confirm that the file of missing and enforced disappearance in the areas of Rojava - Al-Jazeera, Kobani and Afrin - is a huge and complex file, and so far (3286) missing persons have been documented, including: (544) missing persons were kidnapped by ISIS, and (2368) missing persons were kidnapped by the factions of the Syrian National Coalition for the opposition forces and the Syrian Provisional Government, and (374) missing persons were kidnapped by the security services of the Syrian Central Government.

Investigating the fate of missing persons is an ethical and legal duty that requires joint and strong and careful work. It requires the cooperation of all actors on the ground. The Autonomous Administration institutions in northeastern Syria bear the legal responsibility to follow up on their files and reach the required results.

J.O

ANHA