Statement: Arbitrary arrests and racist insults preceded the inmates’ mutiny and the setting of fires inside the wards
The Martyrs’ Families Institution in Kobani has held the leadership of the Internal Security Forces, affiliated with the Interim Government, responsible for the safety of detainees, demanding the disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the deaths and violations that occurred in the city’s prison. This comes against the backdrop of events witnessed in Kobani last night, which the institution stated included arbitrary arrests, intimidation of civilians, and racist insults.
In a statement issued today, the institution pointed out that a convoy belonging to the Internal Security Forces, arriving from Aleppo, entered the Kurdish city of Kobani and roamed its streets during the night hours. It added that the forces arbitrarily arrested civilians amidst the hurling of insults, profanities, and racist slurs against the residents.
The statement stressed that “these practices are a blatant assault on the city’s dignity and the security of its residents, and cannot be justified under any security pretext.”
It explained that a group of prisoners later staged a mutiny inside the prison and set fire to the wards in protest against the Internal Security Forces’ attempt, led by Colonel Majd al-Din al-Sheikh, to forcibly transfer them from the city’s prison to an outside location. The statement noted that this “resulted in the martyrdom of nine of them and the injury of a large number of prisoners due to asphyxiation.”
The institution asserted that “the gravity of this tragedy necessitates revealing the full truth and determining the responsibility of everyone who issued the orders, executed them, or contributed to endangering the lives of the prisoners.”
Furthermore, it held the Internal Security Forces’ leadership responsible for the safety of the detainees and their protection from intimidation and abuse, rejecting the reduction of what happened to mere “individual violations” or the use of any justification to obscure responsibilities. It stated: “The souls of our sons are not a mere detail, the dignity of our people is not to be violated, and the blood of the victims will not be buried in silence.”
The Martyrs’ Families Institution in Kobani demanded an “independent and transparent investigation into the deaths and violations,” the publication of its results to the general public, and the accountability of anyone proven responsible “regardless of their rank or position,” in addition to ensuring that these practices are not repeated.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
