An Australian teenager is believed to have died in a Syrian prison where he had been held for three years, his family said on Monday (July 18th), pleading for the return of other detained women and children.
Yusuf Zahab, 17, died of “uncertain causesin northeast Syria, at Al-Sinaa prison, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
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“We are heartbroken and angry”
Kurdish-led forces are holding Islamic State (IS) suspects in the prison, the scene of intense fighting between IS fighters and US-backed troops earlier this year. “We are heartbroken and angryZahab’s family said in a statement released by HRW. Born in Sydney, Zahab was 11 when he was taken to Syria by relatives before being arrested by the Syrian Democratic Forces in 2019. He had called for help in audio messages released by HRW, describing seeing other child prisoners being killed in a prison raid.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs is seeking to confirm the death and will offer consular assistance to the family. “The Australian Government remains deeply concerned about the situation of Australians in northeast Syria, including the well-being of those held in prisons and other detention centres.a ministry spokeswoman said in a statement. Western countries have faced a dilemma on how to handle their citizens detained in Syria since military operations against the Islamic State group ended in 2019.
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Thousands of fighters joined the group often bringing their wives and children to live in the “caliphatethat ISIS has declared on the territory it has conquered in Iraq and Syria. According to HRW, more than 41,000 foreign citizens, the majority of whom are under the age of 12, are being held in camps and prisons in northeast Syria due to suspected links to IS. Up to 80 Australian nationals, including 19 women and 29 children, are among them, according to a spokeswoman for their families. “Please repatriate the remaining Australian women and childrenZahab’s family said in a statement. HRW’s director of crisis and conflict, Letta Tayler, accused Australia and other foreign governments of having “outsourced responsibility” of their nationals, left in “horrible conditions“. Zahab’s Deathshould urge these countries to urgently bring their detained citizens home“said Letta Tayler.