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Abdul Razak Al-Mahdi Calls for the Release of Detainees Held by "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham"
The Sharia scholar and preacher Abdul Razak Al-Mahdi has highlighted the issue of detainees in the prisons of "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" in Idlib, demanding their release.
In a statement issued today, Saturday, October 19, Al-Mahdi called for the release of prisoners of opinion and the oppressed, mentioning notable names such as "Abu Shu'ayb the Egyptian," "Abu Yahya the Algerian," "Al-Sharif Abu Abd al-Hadi," and "Shiham Al-Alwan," deeming them to have committed no crime. Al-Mahdi, who withdrew from the organization in 2017, is considered one of the prominent preachers in northern Syria and has participated in many committees formed to mediate disputes between armed factions. He addressed a plea to the overall leader of the organization, "Abu Muhammad Al-Julani," pointing out that the mothers, wives, and daughters of the detainees go out daily to demand their release.
He believed that releasing the detainees serves the interests of "the organization" as well as the local population and the Islamic community, as it helps reduce tension and hatred in the liberated areas. He also criticized the factions for their inability to liberate detainees from the regime's prisons over the past 13 years, while arrests continue in areas under their control.
Al-Mahdi noted that the Syrian regime issues death sentences for thousands of people annually in Sednaya prison and others, emphasizing the factions' failure to recover prisoners and detainees.
In recent days, Idlib has witnessed protests by families of detainees, most of whom are from "Hizb al-Tahrir." After reports surfaced about the presence of detained children, including a five-year-old girl, Al-Mahdi, on June 20, called on the leadership of "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," the "Supreme Fatwa Council," and the "Supreme Judiciary Council" to immediately release the girl and her sisters. He also announced on June 23 the formation of a committee of scholars to visit the prisons after receiving complaints about Sharia violations within them. He clarified that the committee is awaiting the organization's response regarding this request, noting that a refusal would strengthen claims about the presence of women and children in the prisons.
Protests continue in Idlib calling for the ousting of "Al-Julani" and the release of detainees, amid increasing calls to resolve this thorny issue.
