Two boys, both born in 2009, identified as al-Muntaser Bellah Adel al-Khamri from al-Tabaqa city in rural Raqqa governorate and Abdul Muttaleb Faisal Ahmad al-Eisa from al-Mansoura town, also in rural Raqqa governorate, were abducted for military conscription on August 8, 2023, by the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) al-Shabiba al-Thawriya, (Revolutionary Youth) faction, also known as the ‘Joanne Schurchkar’, at a checkpoint in Sarin town, administratively a part of Ein al-Arab city in eastern rural Aleppo governorate, while they heading for the Turkish-Syrian borders to cross in Türkiye irregularly. They were taken to an SDF recruitment center.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that the boys’ families have not been notified of what has happened to them, and they are forbidden to contact or receive any visits from them. We are concerned that the boys will be forced to participate in direct and indirect military action.
It should be noted that approximately 267 children are currently conscripted in SDF military training camps.
Photo of Abdul Muttaleb Faisal Ahmad al-Eisa, a child
Photo of al-Muntaser Bellah Adel al-Khamri, a child