QAMISHLI, Syria — A picture shared by Kurdish activists and journalists from Syria has opened widespread discussion of the fate of Syrian prisoners of war. The picture, which first appeared March 9, shows a female fighter from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) tending to the wounds of a member of the Islamic State captured by the Kurds following battles in the countryside of al-Shadadi town in the province of Hasakah, northeastern Syria.

Since June 2014, military clashes between the YPG and IS have expanded and many IS fighters and members have been captured by the Kurds. Despite the need to deal with the issue, some Kurdish officials have shown great reluctance to state how many have been caught.

The Asayish, a local Kurdish police force, is part of the self-rule declared in early 2014 in the three Kurdish-majority areas of Hasakah, Kobani and Afrin.

An official source from the Asayish told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “When IS fighters are caught red-handed and arrested, they are immediately referred to the nearest Asayish center, where they are interrogated and their initial confession is taken.” The injured are taken to a military medical facility affiliated with the Asayish to be treated until their health has improved.