Kobani Council of Martyrs' Families demands release of detainees

The Council of Martyrs' Families in Kobani issued a statement today—read by council board member Aytam Sheikh Bakr at the council’s headquarters in Kobani, in the presence of the families of prisoners and martyrs—addressing the issue of prisoners.

The statement read: "Despite repeated promises from leadership in Damascus and the presidential team overseeing the integration process that this file is a top priority, the reality on the ground reflects a completely different picture. It reinforces the impression that this matter is no longer being treated as a humanitarian and national issue, but is instead being used as a political bargaining chip."

The Council noted that the continuation of this approach "exacerbates the suffering of prisoners and their families, leaves deep social and psychological scars, and sends negative signals to the local community."

It warned that this "serves only to widen the trust gap between the community and the interim government and negatively impacts the path of democratic national integration."

The Council called upon the interim government to "take practical and urgent steps to resolve this humanitarian issue and immediately release the prisoners who made the ultimate sacrifices in confronting terrorism and defending the security and safety of Syrian communities as a whole."

The statement added: "Good intentions are measured by actions, not words. If the interim government possesses a genuine will to build a new Syria based on reconciliation, justice, and partnership, then resolving this issue must be one of the primary indicators of such good faith."

The Council also appealed to the international community—led by the International Coalition—to "assume its moral and humanitarian responsibilities regarding this issue and work earnestly to press for its resolution." He emphasized that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prisoners "were key partners in the war against terrorism and made great sacrifices in defense of security and stability—not only in Syria but across the region and the world."

The Council concluded its statement by calling upon the Kurdish people—both at home and in the diaspora—to "close ranks, stand with the families of martyrs and prisoners, and unite efforts to convey their voice to all forums."

It stressed that "the issue of prisoners is not a fleeting matter but one of dignity, justice, and humanity; resolving it constitutes a true test of the state's seriousness in building a future based on trust and national reconciliation."

The statement ended with the chanting of slogans: "Long live the resistance of the martyrs" and "We want our prisoners back."

Sh-S

ANHA