After the defeat of DAESH by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that finished off the mercenaries taking control of their last strongholds in the village of al-Baghouz, thousands of DAESH mercenaries and their families have surrendered to the SDF. 

Many are foreign nationals, yet their countries of origin refuse taking them back. The presence of these prisoners have put a heavy burden on the Autonomous Administration of Northern Syria, for many reasons.

Lawyers in Raqqa spoke to ANHA about the need for the countries from where these mercenaries are from to act and take back those prisoners. If they don’t want to try them in their countries of origin, said the lawyers, at least they should help establishing an international court. 

"Today, - said lawyer Abdul Rahman Issa - there are large numbers and dangerous mercenaries in YPG prisons. They must be tried and held accountable for the crimes they have committed against humanity.”

Lawyer Issa added that “there should be a different treatment for those actively involved in the horrible massacres carried out by DAESH and those who have been brainwashed or did not commit blood crimes.”

In any case, said the lawyer, it is necessary to decide how to continue and where to try these mercenaries. 

Lawyer Abdel Fattah al-Aker said: "Today we as lawyers urge the international community to take a firm stance towards DAESH mercenaries and call for the establishing of an international court in which mercenaries are held accountable for the crime they committed inside Syrian territory."

Abdel Fattah called on the international community to act and establish such a Court and reminded that all countries must take responsibility for their citizens.