PKK/YPG terror group commits human rights violations in Syria: Amnesty

Amnesty International said that the terror group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – an umbrella group dominated by the PKK/YPG’s Syrian offshoot – committed widespread human rights violations in Syrian detention camps.

The human rights watchdog released a report about the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, aka SDF and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) of extensive human rights abuses in their detention facilities and the al-Hol and Roj displaced persons camps.

These camps have housed families of Daesh terrorists since the territorial defeat of Daesh in 2019. These violations include disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, killings, gender-based violence and war crimes such as torture, cruel treatment and outrages on personal dignity by the terrorist organization YPG/PKK.

Amnesty International labeled the detentions unlawful, citing systemic, inhumane conditions, unlawful killings and torture.

US government’s role

Amnesty International concluded that the U.S. Government “likely violated its obligations under Common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions to ensure the autonomous authorities’ respect for international humanitarian law.”

The report asserted that the United States likely breached these obligations by providing support or intelligence to the terrorist organization YPG/PKK, aka the SDF in U.S. terms, which led to the detention of individuals for alleged Daesh affiliation.

According to the report, the United States would have been aware that these detained individuals would be subjected to the documented violations.

In response to the report, DAANES stated in May calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by providing the necessary support and financial resources to manage the camps and detention facilities where suspected Daesh terrorists are held.

DAANES claimed that it did not have sufficient resources to meet these needs.

However, the YPG/PKK, which has been smuggling all the underground wealth from the Syrian people through the YPG/PKK, is making millions of dollars from this.

In addition, the United States, the European Union and various other countries are already providing financial support.

US government responds

The U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over the reported human rights abuses in Syria and emphasized the importance of respecting human rights, humane treatment of detainees, protection of civilians and appropriate responses to allegations of abuse and civilian harm.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), echoing the State Department’s statements, asserted that the U.S. Government complies with applicable international and domestic law in supporting partner forces such as the SDF.

The DoD also noted that the U.S. may have different understandings of applicable law and relevant facts than those reflected in nongovernmental agency reports on U.S. activities.