PM:11:51:23/01/2022
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SULAIMANI — UNICEF warned in a
statement on Sunday (January 23) nearly 850 juvenile inmates are at risk in the
Ghweiran prison in Hasaka, where Islamic State (ISIS) inmates and outside
sleeper cells have staged a massive break-out attempt.
"As fighting continues, the risk for
children increases, including to be harmed or forcibly recruited,” UNICEF Syria
representative Bo Viktor Nylund said in a statement. "Violence might also
spread to other prisons, inside the camps and local communities.”
A statement from Syrian Democratic
Forces (SDF) cited by North Press Agency noted the presence of children used as
"human shields” was a big obstacle to Kurdish forces in their effort to put
down the insurrection in the prison, which began on Thursday night.
The minors are housed in special
dormitories in the prison in order for them to be deradicalized and
rehabilitated, the SDF said. North Press put the figure of minors in the prison
at 700. Al-Sinaa prison in Ghweiran is estimated to have a population of
thousands of inmates.
The SDF said ISIS will be held
responsible if harm comes to the children, who were referred to as "Cubs of the
Caliphate.”
UNICEF said in its statement some of
the minors under detention were as young as 12 and called on the release of
child-detainees, saying they should only be held as a "measure of last resort.”
Rojava Information Center (RIC) said
only pockets of ISIS militants are believed to remain in the neighborhoods of
Ghweiran and al-Zuhour in Hasaka.
Clashes have been ongoing over the past
three days. SDF said at least 175 ISIS militants have been killed in the battle
to regain control of the area and prevent the breakout, according to RIC.
(NRT Digital Media)