Near the intersection of the Syrian and Iraqi borders, more than two thousand individuals remain confined in the Roj detention camp. Many of these residents have been held for nearly a decade.
The camp primarily houses the wives and widows of deceased or defeated Islamic State (IS) militants. Following the 2019 collapse of the group’s self-proclaimed caliphate, these women and their children have lived in a state of legal and physical limbo. However, a recent government offensive has weakened the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This Kurdish-led group is responsible for guarding the facility. Consequently, the power shift is sparking fresh hopes for amnesty or escape among the detainees.
Comparing the Camps: Roj vs. al-Hol
While the larger al-Hol camp recently fell under the control of the national army, Roj camp remains distinct. Al-Hol brings nearly 24,000 residents into a new jurisdiction, but its population is mostly Syrian and Iraqi. Because of this, repatriation to their home communities is more frequent.
In contrast, Roj camp houses a much smaller population of roughly 2,000 people. Most of these residents are foreign nationals from over 50 different countries, primarily from former Soviet Union states. Because many foreign nations are reluctant to return their citizens, repatriation at Roj remains highly difficult.
The Human Cost: Stories of the “Left Behind”
Interviews with detainees reveal a complex mix of desperation and conflicting desires. While some women are desperate to return to their home countries, others fear prosecution or social ostracization.
The Repatriation Gap
Cassandra Judge, a Belgian national, noted that her government has only repatriated women with children. She arrived in Syria at age 18 and later lost her French husband in Raqqa. Because she has no children, she remains stuck. She claims Belgian officials suggested she must “escape to Turkey” independently before they can provide consular assistance.
A Lost Generation
Buthaina, a Tunisian mother who has spent nine years in the camp, expressed despair over her children’s future. While her husband and son are in prison for their links to the insurgency, she argues that the camp’s residents are “dead in this life.” Without access to education or the outside world, she fears for the mental health of the children growing up behind wire.
Geopolitical Shifts: A New Era in Damascus
The fate of these detainees is further complicated by the radical change in Syria’s central government. Following the 2024 ousting of Bashar al-Assad, the country is now led by Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Several key developments are now affecting the camps:
- Strategic Realignments: Despite his past links to insurgent groups, President al-Sharaa has joined the Global Coalition against IS. This positions his administration as a new partner in regional security.
- Prisoner Transfers: The U.S. military has begun transferring male IS detainees from Syrian prisons to Iraq. However, no formalized international framework exists for the tens of thousands of women and children in the camps.
- Security Vacuum: The weakening of Kurdish forces at Roj camp could lead to unauthorized departures. This prospect deeply concerns international security agencies and the families of the detainees alike.
