Islamic State 'Torture Cells' Discovered By Rebel Fighters in Syria

Footage shows the metal doors of apparent cells, with mattresses, blankets, bowls of food and liquid on the floor.

Thursday 1 September 2016 16:20, UK

Fighters from the Manbij Military Council have found a prison used by Islamic State group (IS) militants to imprison and torture women, according to news agency Arab24. Pictured are metal doors to apparent cells.
Image: Fighters from the Manbij Military Council say Islamic State militants would have used the jail to torture women who disobeyed them. Pics: APTN
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Rebel Syrian fighters have reportedly uncovered a prison used by Islamic State militants to torture women.

Independent news agency Arab24 said a prison with 10 small rooms had been found in Manbij, a Syrian city recently liberated from IS. 

The discovery was made by fighters from the Manbij Military Council, which is part of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). 

Fighters from the Manbij Military Council have found a prison used by Islamic State group (IS) militants to imprison and torture women, according to news agency Arab24. Pictured are mattresses and blankets on the floor.
Image: Rebel fighters say the apparent prison was well hidden

Ibrahim Al-Mohammed told the agency: "We discovered an Islamic State group prison for women, with rooms for groups as well as solitary prisoners.

"We found the worst, most violent torture tools, and may God curse them."

Sexual stimulants, contraceptives and narcotics were also uncovered at the site, the fighters said.

Military council group leader Omar Mazerli said: "We found various kinds of pills, including sexual stimulation, contraceptives and narcotic pills which were used by the Islamic State group for torture.

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"They have very strange ways. This place was very hard to find and it is well hidden, but we got here with God's will and the efforts of the Military Council."

Bowls and liquid on the floor in an apparent prison allegedly used by Islamic State group (IS) militants to imprison and torture women, according to news agency Arab24.
Image: Bowls and liquids on the floor of the site

Footage of the site shows the metal doors of apparent cells, and mattresses, pillows and blankets as well as bowls of food and liquid on the floor.

The fighters said the prison would have been used by IS to hold women who defied their orders.

Writing on the wall in Arabic said: "God, I have wronged myself, and no one forgives sins but you. Forgive me, you are forgiving and merciful."

"God, I have wronged myself, and no one forgives sins but you. Forgive me, you are forgiving and merciful." Fighters from the Manbij Military Council have found a prison used by Islamic State group (IS) militants to imprison and torture women, according to news agency Arab24. Pictured is Arabic writing on the wall.
Image: Writing on the walls included: 'God, I have wronged myself, and no one forgives sins but you'

The discovery comes just weeks after the SDF reclaimed control of the city from IS, freeing thousands of captive civilians, following a fight that has lasted for months.

Residents celebrated their freedom by taking to the streets, with men cutting their beards and women setting fire to niqabs in defiance at the militant group's strict restrictions on clothing and facial hair.

Manbij resident cuts his beard after the city is liberated from Islamic State
Image: Manbij resident cuts his beard after the city is freed from Islamic State

The capture of Manbij is the biggest defeat for IS in Syria since July 2015, when they lost the town of Tal Abyad on the border with Turkey.

Manbij is an important location as it lies on a key supply route between the Turkish border and the city of Raqqa, IS's self-declared capital.

Sky News correspondent Alex Rossi said the city had become known as "little London" due to the number of British jihadist fighters who stayed there on their way to Raqqa.

US officials said with Manbij under control, it paves the way for a move on Raqqa.