Kurdish-led forces in charge of jails in north-east Syria housing about 10,000 men with alleged links to the Islamic State (IS) group are releasing prisoners in exchange for money under a “reconciliation” scheme, according to interviews with two freed men and official documents.
Syrian men imprisoned without trial can pay a US$8,000 fine to be freed, a copy of the release form showed.
As part of the deal, the released prisoners sign a declaration promising not to rejoin any armed organizations, and to leave the parts of north and east Syria under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
On their release,