Raqqa: The Syrian government has established specialized judicial committees to assess the legal status of inmates at the al-Aktan prison in Raqqa, following the withdrawal of the YPG/SDF terror organization from the facility.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Justice Ministry announced that the prison was officially transferred to security authorities after SDF forces vacated the facility. This move is part of broader efforts to reinforce state authority and re-establish institutions under the rule of law.
The authorities have emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of detainees. Measures have been implemented to guarantee their humanitarian and legal rights, including the provision of food, water, and medical care in compliance with Syrian law and judicial standards, as stated in the ministry’s announcement.
The Justice Ministry has formed specialized judicial committees tasked with reviewing the legal files of all inmates. These committees are expected to examine cases meticulously and resolve them promptly through appropriate legal channels, with the process being conducted with ‘full responsibility and transparency.’ Families have been reassured that detainees’ rights will be safeguarded.
Previously, the Interior Ministry announced the takeover of al-Aktan prison from the SDF. Prison and corrections authorities have initiated a comprehensive review of detainees’ personal and judicial records to ensure the law’s proper application.
The handover occurred after approximately 800 SDF members, who had been managing the prison and its surroundings, were transferred following five days of negotiations with the government, as reported by Alikhbaria TV. Under this agreement, Syrian Army units and security agencies assumed complete control of the prison, including sections housing detainees linked to the ISIS (Daesh) terror group, ensuring their management under Syrian law.
Syrian forces entered Raqqa city earlier this week after advancing to the province’s administrative boundaries. This followed the collapse of SDF control, which had been established since 2017 with US support.
On Sunday, President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire agreement with the SDF, which includes integrating its members into state institutions. A key aspect of the deal is the transfer of responsibility for prisons and camps holding ISIS detainees, along with the forces guarding them, to the government, granting it full legal and security authority over these facilities.
The agreement was reached following a multi-day military operation by the Syrian army, during which it regained significant territories in eastern and northeastern Syria after repeated SDF breaches of earlier agreements signed roughly ten months ago. The SDF had previously failed to execute a March 10, 2025, agreement with the government, which called for equal rights for the Kurdish component and the integration of civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the state administration.