Introduction
For over five years, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) caused death and destruction throughout northeast Syria. Between 2014 and 2019, in a region already marked by layers of unrest, repression, and violence, an almost inconceivable depth of cruelty was inflicted on the civilian population. Much has been written about the years of ISIS rule and the anti-ISIS conflict that followed. However, much of the knowledge about this period focuses on ISIS’ immense brutality and the role of regional forces in ousting the group.
By comparison, relatively little has been heard from the ordinary women, men, and children who suffered directly at ISIS’ hands. Despite countless reports and documentaries about the shocking violence of ISIS’ regime, concerted efforts to collect and analyse the stories of communities across northeast Syria or to address the scars inflicted by years of ISIS rule are lacking. Calls for accountability, truth commissions, and reparations have been muted when it comes to northeast Syria, constrained by the region’s conflict dynamics and political sensitivities.
This Tyranny of Evil report does not seek to substitute for accountability measures or serve as evidence-gathering effort to support criminal prosecutions. Rather, it aims to begin addressing how societies confronted by sustained ‘radical evil’ can recover, rooted in the need to acknowledge and respond to victims’ experiences both psychosocially and politically. The relative silence on accountability issues underscores the feeling that northeast Syria has been asked to exist in a kind of void since the defeat of ISIS, with the international community almost confused about what to do there or how to do it. This report represents a conscious step toward facilitating recovery. This effort is not motivated simply by moral or humanitarian concerns; genuine recovery is essential to building resilience, enhancing security, and preventing future violence.
Of the hundreds of victims and survivors interviewed, many emphasized the moral significance of being asked to share their experiences in an organized setting. The process this report documents is an exercise in acknowledging the dignity and humanity of those who suffered so grievously under ISIS. While the telling of the story of the conflict so far has largely focused on military actions, foreign victims, and high-profile atrocities, this account seeks to reclaim some of that narrative and explain what happened to ordinary civilians who were subjected to the brutal ordeal of five years of ISIS rule.
About this report
Part One of this report details the history of ISIS, its ideological roots, and its route to power in the context of the Syrian conflict. Afterwards, the report is divided into two principal components. Part Two has a geographical focus, featuring detailed chapters on the experience of the conflict and occupation in six areas: Kobane, Hasakeh, Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Part Three is thematic, with four chapters considering the impact of ISIS rule and the anti-ISIS conflict through the lens of the economy, education, gender, and mental health and psychosocial harm.
The Tyranny of Evil report is available in Arabic and English
Partner Organisations
This report is a collaborative effort between the European Institute of Peace (the Institute) and Rights Defense Initiative (RDI):

About the Rights Defense Initiative
Rights Defense Initiative is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 2019. It works on monitoring and documenting human rights atrocities in northeast Syria, sharing them with international and regional accountability mechanism, and preparing studies and reports on the impact of the conflict on communities affected by it. RDI aims to support victims of atrocities to raise their voice in the international community to achieve justice for all victims. It seeks to spread a culture of human rights and the protection of civilians during conflicts in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions. This commitment extends to compliance with international human rights law.

About the European Institute of Peace
The European Institute of Peace is an independent body that works with a broad range of local and international actors, including the EU, UN, national governments, regional bodies, and civil society to design and deliver sustainable peace processes. It provides practical experience, technical expertise, and policy advice on conflict resolution. The Institute is active in over a dozen countries across various regions of the world, including the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.