A girl, identified as 13-year-old Zleikha Abdou from Ein al-Arab city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, was abducted for conscription purposes on July 1, 2023 by the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) al-Shabiba al-Thawriya, (Revolutionary Youth) faction, also known as the ‘Joanne Schurchkar’,after being lured by one of their members to a sewing tuition center in her home city. She was taken to an SDF recruitment center.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that Zleikha’s family has not been notified of what has happened to her, and she is forbidden to contact them or receive any visits from them. We are concerned that she will be forced to participate in direct and indirect military action.
It should be noted that approximately 231 children are currently conscripted in SDF military training camps.
