Syria

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025

CEP Webinar: A Lawless Space – Foreign Fighters Detained in Northeastern Syria | Prof. Ben Saul

Introductory Remarks: Prof. Ben Saul
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism, Challis Chair of International Law, The University of Sydney

On November 18, 2025, CEP hosted a webinar where Sofia Koller, Senior Research Analyst at CEP Germany, and Iva Mrvová, reporter and researcher with extensive field experience in Northeastern Syria, presented key insights from their policy paper, "A Lawless Space – Alleged ISIS-affiliated Men and Boys from Germany detained in Northeastern Syria."

This CEP policy paper serves as a starting point for a discussion on the current situation of foreign men and boys detained in Northeastern Syria, the importance of safeguarding human rights while countering terrorism, and ways forward in view of the current security and political situation in Syria.

Access the paper here: https://counterextre.me/ALawlessSpace

Remote video URL
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025

CEP Webinar: A Lawless Space – Foreign Fighters Detained in Northeastern Syria | Sofia Koller

Presentation: Sofia Koller
Senior Research Analyst, CEP

On November 18, 2025, CEP hosted a webinar where Sofia Koller, Senior Research Analyst at CEP Germany, and Iva Mrvová, reporter and researcher with extensive field experience in Northeastern Syria, presented key insights from their policy paper, "A Lawless Space – Alleged ISIS-affiliated Men and Boys from Germany detained in Northeastern Syria."

This CEP policy paper serves as a starting point for a discussion on the current situation of foreign men and boys detained in Northeastern Syria, the importance of safeguarding human rights while countering terrorism, and ways forward in view of the current security and political situation in Syria.

Access the paper here: https://counterextre.me/ALawlessSpace

Remote video URL
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Syria has voted for the first time in 53 years of dictatorship. For terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler, the country is moving towards an Islamic state.

 

Date
October 10, 2025
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TIP’s Nebulous Origins—Tracing History by Aliases

This blog post is the fifth and final entry in a short series about the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al Qaeda (AQ)-affiliated, originally Uyghur, Islamist terrorist group. Like many AQ affiliates, TIP has sought refuge with the Taliban in their...

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Foreign Fighters in a New Syria: How the Uyghur TIP Might Shape the Future of Terrorism

This blog is the second entry in a five-part series about the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al Qaeda (AQ)-affiliated, originally Uyghur Islamist terrorist group. While remaining an AQ-affiliate, TIP is also closely linked with Hayat Tahrir al...

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Israel is conducting airstrikes on Damascus, while fighting rages in the Druze city of Suwayda. Middle East expert [CEP Senior Director] Hans-Jakob Schindler explains how these events are connected, the role of the fragile transitional government, and Israel's strategic goals.

Date
July 18, 2025
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CEP Senior Research Analyst Sofia Koller interviewed regarding ISIS, women and children in Syria, and returnees. 

Date
July 11, 2025
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hts and affiliated groups blog

A short history of HTS and important affiliated groups in Syria

This blog is the first entry in a new five-part series about the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al Qaeda (AQ)-affiliated, originally Uyghur Islamist terrorist group. While remaining an AQ-affiliate, TIP is also closely linked with Hayat Tahrir al...

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The EU and the US also want to end sanctions against Syria. Germany also plans to deport Islamist threats there. Hans-Jakob Schindler of the international research organization Counter Extremism Project urges caution and warns that we should first observe whether interim President al-Sharaa actually implements his moderate course. "This is a very significant vote of confidence in a person in Syria – Mr. al-Sharaa, who announces he will do something that, however, does not correspond to the ideological orientation of his own people, which has been expressed and repeated for years."

Date
May 27, 2025
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