HRW denounces death of Australian teenager in SDF prison for suspected jihadists


The NGO Human Rights Watch has denounced the death of an Australian teenager in a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prison in northeastern Syria for suspected members of the Islamic State jihadist organization, to which the young man belonged "out of obligation," according to the humanitarian group.

© Provided by News 360Archive - Al Hol camp in Syria. - STRINGER / XINHUA NEWS / CONTACTOPHOTO

Yusuf Zahab's death has been confirmed by the family, according to the NGO, which last heard from the young man when he sent desperate pleas for help during the Islamic State's major siege of Al Sina prison in the city of Hasaka in January 2022.

According to the family, an Australian government official had informed relatives on Saturday that Zahab, who would have turned 18 in April, had died of uncertain causes.

The family confirmed that they learned in January 2021 that Zahab had contracted tuberculosis in an overcrowded, SDF-run prison holding suspected jihadists.

"Tragically, the reporting of teenager Yusuf Zahab's death should come as no surprise to Australia or other governments that have externalized responsibility for their citizens held in appalling conditions in northeastern Syria," lamented Letta Tayler, deputy crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch.

According to figures shuffled by HRW, more than 41,000 foreigners from dozens of countries have been held since at least 2019 in "potentially deadly and often inhumane conditions in camps and prisons by authorities in northeastern Syria."

According to HRW most are children under the age of 12, and none have been brought before a court to determine the necessity and legality of their detention.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed on January 31 that nearly 500 prison employees, fighters, civilians, Islamic State attackers and prisoners were killed in the battle to retake al-Sina.

The armed group has not provided breakdowns on the number of detainees killed, wounded and missing despite queries from UN agencies, as well as Human Rights Watch (HRW), media and aid groups.