Syria and Iraq agree to form judicial committees to review ISIS prisoner cases

Syria and Iraq have reached an agreement to form judicial committees for reviewing the cases of ISIS prisoners who were transferred from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi prisons this year. The Iraqi delegation, led by Supreme Judicial Council head Faiq Zaidan, visited Syria on Thursday to discuss legal and judicial coordination.

Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al Wais informed Iraqi state media that technical and expert teams would be formed to examine the issue and reach mutually acceptable solutions. In February, the US Central Command and Iraqi officials reported that approximately 5,700 detainees had been transferred from Syria to Iraq. The Syrian government regained control of ISIS-held areas earlier this year, leading to clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Iraq agreed to take in the Syrian prisoners in coordination with the US. The two countries plan to form joint judicial committees to regularly meet and resolve related trial files. Human rights groups have criticized some trials, citing rushed procedures and concerns over due process.