Prison Fire and Detainee Deaths
Rights Monitor Syria has issued a strong condemnation regarding a fire that broke out inside the Kobani/Ayn al-Arab city prison, resulting in the deaths of at least eight Kurdish detainees and injuring others. The organization expressed serious concerns about detention conditions, detainee safety, and the legal obligations of the authorities managing the facility to protect the lives of those deprived of their liberty.
According to testimonies collected by the platform, the incident occurred after security officials threatened Kurdish prisoners with transfer to a prison in Aleppo under the authority of the Syrian Interim Government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. The 27 detainees reportedly refused this transfer. Witnesses stated that tensions escalated into arson within the prison, leading to the casualties. Rights Monitor Syria is calling for an independent and transparent investigation to determine how the fire started, whether threats or direct actions contributed to it, and to identify responsible parties. The organization emphasized that detained persons retain fundamental rights, including the right to life and protection from torture or cruel treatment, and that authorities bear special responsibility for their safety.
Extrajudicial Killing of Sibran Hazni
In a related development, the organization condemned the killing of Sibran Hazni, a Kurdish soldier who had previously served in the Syrian Democratic Forces before joining the newly integrated Latakia Brigade of the Syrian Army. Protests erupted in Hasaka province on September 10, 2026, following reports that Hazni was abducted by armed men allegedly linked to the Bakara Arab tribe and killed brutally. Video footage circulated by the perpetrators showed him being stabbed to death while slurs were shouted against him.
While some narratives attributed the act to revenge for incidents during military operations in the Tall Tamer countryside in 2023, Rights Monitor Syria stressed that no claim of prior criminal involvement justifies kidnapping or extrajudicial execution. Such acts require referral to competent judicial authorities for fair trial procedures. The organization called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of his abduction and murder, identifying all participants and inciters, and ensuring accountability through due process rather than vigilante justice.
Rising Hate Speech and Calls for Accountability
The organization also warned about the alarming rise in ethnic-based hate speech and incitement against Kurds in northern Syria, particularly following the prison fire and Hazni’s death. Videos containing threats to kill Kurds have been widely shared on social media by individuals associated with or supporting the Syrian Interim Government. Rights Monitor Syria highlighted that such rhetoric poses a direct threat to civil peace and could translate into violence against civilians.
The group demanded immediate measures to stop hate speech, protect detainees from abuse, allow access for independent human rights monitors to detention centers, and ensure medical care for the injured. They further urged authorities to investigate the prison fire thoroughly, preserve evidence including surveillance footage, and hold accountable anyone responsible for negligence, threats, or intentional harm leading to deaths and injuries.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
