As the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced a targeted operation on 30 October against an Islamic State (ISIS) cell in Camp al-Hol (Hawl), al-Hasakah (Hesekê), northeastern Syria, Amnesty International released a report accusing Iraqi authorities of torture and enforced disappearances of detainees suspected of ISIS links. Five Iraqi citizens linked to ISIS were arrested in the SDF operation, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
Amnesty’s report detailed that individuals held in al-Jed’ah “rehabilitation” centre, run by Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displacement, are routinely subjected to torture during interrogations. Among the eight cases documented, seven contained accounts of torture, with six detainees reportedly sentenced based on confessions obtained under duress. Amnesty’s findings have prompted renewed calls for Iraq to “immediately end the use of torture and enforced disappearances” at the facility.
Iraq is one of the few countries actively repatriating its nationals from al-Hol camp, a policy supported by the United Nations and the United States. However, detainees and human rights advocates have raised concerns over Iraq’s handling of returned nationals. As of last month, al-Jed’ah centre held 2,223 people, including 1,318 children, 627 women, and 278 men, and operates with support from the UN and various NGOs, Amnesty International reported.
In addition, on 29 October, Iraq’s Diyali province intelligence agency reported the arrest of five ISIS members and the deaths of seven others in recent anti-terrorism actions. Authorities indicated that detainees admitted to being compensated for their ISIS affiliations, underscoring the ongoing security threat from the group. Since 2021, Iraqi forces have reportedly apprehended around 80 individuals in al-Hol camp for alleged ISIS involvement, with arrests conducted by Iraqi army, police, and intelligence agencies.
Reports indicate that some detainees at al-Jed’ah are transferred to prisons in Mosul or Baghdad and later tried in Mosul’s Ninewa Counterterrorism Court. Iraq has thus far repatriated approximately 9,500 citisens from al-Hol since 2021, with plans to increase transfers, potentially repatriating over 18,000 by 2027.
