Syrian authorities are working with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to close the file of political detainees held by both sides, as part of ongoing coordination between Damascus and the Kurdish-led force.
Families in al-Hasakah province recently demanded the release of relatives from Alaya Prison in Qamishli, which remains under SDF control. Local sources said prison officials told families that no detainees remained at the facility and that some prisoners had been transferred to Iraq last month along with other Syrian inmates under a bilateral arrangement reportedly mediated by Washington.
At the same time, the Syrian government is preparing to resolve the broader detainee issue linked to the SDF. A presidential team operating in al-Hasakah is compiling lists of prisoners held by the SDF in preparation for their release. In return, Damascus is expected to free a new group of detainees held by the government in the coming days.
Video circulating online showed families gathering outside Alaya Prison seeking information about their relatives. The Hasakah Media Center said SDF personnel told them the prison held no detainees and that those previously held had been transferred to Iraq on terrorism-related charges.
Families told the outlet that some detainees had been arrested by the SDF for raising the Syrian flag, displaying images of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, or posting comments on social media.
Local reports, however, suggest some prisoners may still be held in Alaya. The SDF had previously transferred detainees there from al-Hasakah Central Prison, widely known as Ghuwayran Prison, before it was handed over to government authorities. Other detention sites include prisons in al-Aqtaan and al-Shaddadi.
Alaya Prison has been one of the SDF’s main detention facilities for individuals accused of criminal, security, or political offenses. According to available figures, it previously held about 1,000 detainees, most of whom have since been released.
A second round of prisoner releases involving SDF detainees is expected soon. Brigadier General Ziad al-Ayesh, the Syrian presidential envoy overseeing implementation of the January 29, 2026 agreement between Damascus and the SDF, said the process would include individuals previously detained during clashes with government forces in earlier “law-enforcement operations.”
In an interview with Syrian Al-Ikhbariah TV, al-Ayesh said the Syrian state intends to take over prisons formerly controlled by the SDF. Their administration would be transferred to the Interior Ministry and placed under judicial supervision by the Justice Ministry to ensure full state oversight.
He added that Damascus is also working with the SDF to release all political detainees, prisoners of conscience, and those detained in connection with events during the years of the Syrian uprising.
On March 10, the Syrian government and the SDF exchanged the release of 200 detainees. Al-Ayesh stated that Damascus aims to close the detainee file as part of a broader “national integration” process intended to promote reconciliation and strengthen the country’s unity.
Meanwhile, in remarks during a funeral for SDF fighters in Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said that the group is working to return about 300 prisoners to the Syrian government in the coming days, as well as recover the bodies of fighters killed in recent clashes.
Further releases are expected before Nowruz on March 21, which Syria will celebrate this year for the first time as an official national holiday under Decree No. 17.
