Syrian Kurds arrested and forced into the military

In April, Syrian Kurds who refused “compulsory military service” were arrested by the Kurdish security forces and taken to detention facilities before being transferred to the 'fighting fronts'. Dozens of young men were arrested at checkpoints in the city of Sere Kaniye, in Hasakah province. The controversial conscription law was introduced in mid-2014, and obliges citizens aged between 18 and 30 to join the People's Defence Service (YPG) for six months.

Sources

Ara News, “Syrian Kurds enforce conscription law to combat ISIS”, http://aranews.net/2015/04/syrias-kurds-enforce-conscription-law-to-combat-isis/, 1 April 2015

Middle East Eye: “Syrian Kurds introduce controversial conscription law”, http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-kurds-introduce-controversial-conscription-law-815152310, 22 July 2014

WRI CO-Update, March-August 2014, http://www.wri-irg.org/node/23519, 29 August 2014