A young girl with special needs, identified as Maya Izzdin Shaker, was abducted for military conscription on January 20, 2024, by the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) al-Shabiba al-Thawriya, (Revolutionary Youth) faction, also known as the ‘Joanne Schurchkar’, from outside her family’s home in her hometown of Amouda in rural Hasaka governorate. She was then taken to an SDF recruitment camp.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that Maya’s family has not been notified of what has happened to her, and she is forbidden to contact 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 309 children are currently conscripted in SDF military training camps.
