A few weeks ago, Michael Safi travelled to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces-controlled region in north-east Syria. Here, suspected foreign fighters of Islamic State, including those from Britain, have long been imprisoned without charge or knowledge of potential release. Many prisoners deny membership in IS, whereas Michael and journalist Will Christou interviewed a British surgeon from Leicester who claimed to have been tricked into crossing into Syria from Turkey, and an Australian prisoner who admitted to being an IS member, whose family had no knowledge of his location.
The Kurdish forces running the prison want foreign governments to repatriate their fighters, many of whom refuse, preferring to disregard these IS legacies. Additionally, the forces would like countries to take responsibility for the women and children from former IS-controlled territories held in local camps.
Elsewhere, IS fighters continue to hide and conduct attacks. Journalist Baderkhan Ahmad told Michael that two years ago, an assault on the Panorama detention centre resulted in numerous fatalities, and 400 prisoners remain unaccounted for.
Global political developments, such as the potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria by the Trump administration, and USAid funding cuts that jeopardized food and water supplies at camps, have left prison and camp organizers anxious about increased vulnerability. Although funding has been extended, its duration is uncertain.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/mar/07/inside-the-islamic-state-prisons-the-west-is-trying-to-forget-podcast
