Kobani Prison Fire: Family Calls for Accountability After Nine Deaths

The family of a prisoner who died in the Kobani prison fire is calling for those responsible to be held accountable as questions remain over how the incident began.

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Family Calls for Accountability After Kobani Prison Fire Kills Nine

The family of a prisoner who died in a fire at Kobani prison has called for those responsible to be held accountable following an incident that left nine inmates dead and 17 others injured.

The fire broke out at Kobani prison on Saturday, 12 September, during a period of heightened tensions in the city.

Ayman Saleh Rashid, whose brother Aziz Rashid was among those killed, called for those responsible for the incident to face accountability. He said his brother and other prisoners had rejected a decision to transfer them to a prison in Aleppo.

There are differing accounts about how the incident began.

Kurdish media outlets have reported that tensions inside the prison followed the planned transfer of prisoners to Aleppo. Other reports have described the incident as a riot and fire involving prisoners.

Because the circumstances remain disputed, the precise cause of the fire and responsibility for the deaths have not been independently established.

Syrian presidential adviser and former SDF commander Mazloum Abdi has called for a transparent investigation into the incident. A special investigative committee has reportedly been established to examine what happened and gather evidence before potential referral to judicial authorities.

Syrians for Truth and Justice, together with other Syrian civil society organisations, has also called for an independent and impartial investigation. The organisations said the investigation should examine detention conditions, fire-prevention measures, evacuation procedures, the medical response and any use of force.

The prison fire occurred amid wider tensions in Kobani and northeastern Syria. The incident followed unrest connected to the killing of a Kurdish fighter and comes at a sensitive time as Kurdish-led institutions and forces are being integrated into Syria’s state structures.

Families of the victims and residents of Kobani have called for the circumstances surrounding the deaths to be fully investigated and for anyone found responsible to be held accountable through legal procedures.