In the heart of Hassakeh, Syria, stands a prison unlike any other—Gweiran, now renamed Panorama, where the lives of 4,500 alleged ISIS members hang in a balance of uncertainty and obscurity from the world outside. These detainees were apprehended during the chaotic end of the extremist group's caliphate spread across Iraq and Syria. For years, they have been disconnected from events as monumental as the ousting of long-time Syrian President Bashar Assad in a rapid insurgent offensive.
This upheaval has intensified the spotlight on prisons like Panorama situated in northeast Syria. These centers continue to house around 9,000 suspected ISIS affiliates who remain untried. Guarded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the U.S., these facilities are paramount in the ongoing struggle against the remnants of terror groups carved out during their last stand in Baghouz in March 2019.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi voiced concerns following Assad's departure, revealing that ISIS members seized significant weapon stockpiles from installations abandoned by the former regime's forces. The danger looms large as these prisoners still represent a figurative 'ISIS army' under lock and key, a sentiment echoed by Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command's leader during his working visit to Syria recently. The fear is tangible among SDF officials, who recognize the threat of insurgents attempting to liberate these detainees.
The prison itself, previously functioning as a technical school, has been transformed into a high-security facility. During an exclusive visit facilitated by heavy armed oversight, a glimpse into the life within these walls was offered. Among the detainees was Maher, an Australian nurse who, despite escaping the conflict in Baghouz under a humanitarian pathway, has spent seven years incarcerated without trial.
Maher described the deep isolation—both physically and emotionally—as he remains unaware of his family's condition, left in a camp for ISIS-linked families elsewhere in Syria. His story of regret and longing for normalcy encapsulates the plight of many others in Panorama, disconnected from the outside world that has changed dramatically since their detention.
An escape attempt embodied the prison's precarious security, notably the 2022 violent breakout attempt by armed extremists, which led to devastating casualties and showcased the fragility of control. The SDF has had to redistribute resources due to recent escalations with Turkey-backed forces, further threatening the stability of these detention centers.
Beyond the prison walls, the regional geopolitics churn. During a diplomatic visit to Turkey, discussions hinted at Ankara's willingness to support the management of these sensitive sites. However, Abdi challenges this offer, suggesting that Turkish aggression hampers the SDF’s ability to secure camps like al-Hol, where over 40,000 individuals, including women and children with alleged ISIS links, live.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing negotiations between the SDF and Syria’s government led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group—a salient push towards a comprehensive solution within the country itself. But for the detainees in Panorama, time remains static. One British detainee, who arrived in Syria captivated by media portrayals of the conflict's brutality, now finds himself longing for trial in the UK as a means back to life.
His words reflect a shared sense of despair and displacement among his fellow prisoners. To survive a day in this place is a miracle, he said—a stark representation of their harsh reality and sense of timelessness, leaving them unclear even of the current year, some thousands of days from their last touch with the outside world.
