Captives' families protest, meet with political body in Hasaka

Comrades and families of captives in the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) staged a protest on Tuesday at the Nusaybin border crossing with North Kurdistan, demanding the release of their sons detained in prisons run by the Syrian Interim Government.

The protesters chanted slogans such as "We want our prisoners, we want our heroes," "Break the chains of the prisons, free our prisoners," and "Long live the prison resistance." They also held banners with "I want my imprisoned uncle," "I want my son," and "We all support the prisoners until the end" written on.

The protesters then proceeded to the Democratic Union Party (PYD) building in the northern part of Qamishlo city, where the meeting between the PYD and the delegation of the Hasaka Governorate's Political Bureau was held.

The protesters chanted slogans demanding "The immediate release of the prisoners; no agreement without the prisoners."

Following that, five families representing the families of prisoners in Qamishlo city met with the delegation of the Hasaka Governorate's Political Bureau, headed by Hassen Abbas.

After the meeting, a relative of one of the prisoners reported that the delegation made firm promises to release all prisoners within a maximum period of one week, noting that this step comes within the requirements of the integration process and in accordance with the January 29th Agreement.

He emphasized that the delegation stated the issue of prisoners is not a matter for negotiation or bargaining, but rather a series of ongoing implementation procedures, stressing that the issue is a priority, not a marginalized one, and that the release will include everyone without exception.

Based on the January 29th Agreement, prisoner exchanges began on March 10, 2026. The first phase involved the release of 100 individuals from each side, followed by the second phase on March 19, 2026, which included the release of 300 individuals from each side. The third phase took place on April 11, 2026, during which 400 individuals were released by the Interim Government in exchange for 91 individuals released by the Syrian Democratic Forces, as part of the agreement's implementation phases.

According to information received by ANHA agency from government sources and others from the Autonomous Administration, the number of prisoners currently held by the Interim Government ranges between 500 and 600.

A new batch was scheduled to be released at the beginning of this week, but the process was halted without any official explanation given so far.

ANHA