“Al-Hawl mini-state” | 20 murders carried out by ISIS cells since early 2021
Al-Hawl camp, located in the far south-east of al-Hasaka, has been witnessing a very significant increase in killings since the beginning of 2021, carried out by cells of the Islamic State through various ways, including shooting and using sharp objects.
Since the beginning of 2021, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented 20 murders, 13 of which took place in January, and seven during February.
A breakdown of fatalities is as follows:
- 31 Iraqi refugees, including one child and three women
- Five Syrians, including two women and head of the “Syrian Council” in the camp
- Two members of (Al-Asayish)
In the same context, a gunman from the cells responsible for the killings was killed after a bomb was detonated while being chased by an Al-Asaish patrol.
These statistics are clear evidence of the significant increase in the killings compared to the previous period, where in 2020, the Syrian Observatory monitored 33 assassinations in the camp. A breakdown of fatalities is as follows:
- 21 Iraqi refugees, mostly collaborators with the Internal Security Forces (Al-Asayish)
- Six Russian women
- Two Iraqis
- Three Syrians
- Six Syrian men, including the guard of a relief organization working in the camp.
The Syrian Observatory renews its appeal to the international community for a solution to “Al Hawl mini-state” crisis, which is considered a clear and present danger to everyone. We, at the Syrian Observatory, once more renew our call to the UN Security Council, all organizations concerned and countries that claim to respect and champion human rights globally to act immediately to stop the crimes and violations committed against the Syrian people by the Islamic State and many other active actors on the ground, and to establish appropriate courts for prosecuting the perpetrators. We call on all those countries that have citizens in Al-Hawl camp to find a solution for those individuals and face up to their responsibility.