The Intelligence from The Economist ISIS control: Syria’s prison camp changes hands
18 snips
Jan 23, 2026 
Natasha Loda, the Health editor at The Economist, discusses the UK's innovative regulatory approach to customized medicines, highlighting its potential impact on treating rare diseases. Additionally, Gareth Brown provides a gripping report from Al-Hol camp in Syria, detailing the challenges of managing the ISIS detainee population after the camp's control shifted. He delves into the camp's precarious security, economic dynamics, and the ongoing influence of ISIS ideology among residents. Finally, Anne Rowe shares the fascinating story of Cecilia Giménez and the viral 'Monkey Jesus' restoration that dramatically boosted local tourism.
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Life In A Vast Camp
- Gareth Brown describes Al-Hol as a vast tent city holding more than 20,000 people suspected of ISIS links.
- He recounts how it became a dumping ground after 2018, hosting foreigners and locals stuck in legal limbo.
Camp Operates Like A Mini City
- The camp functions like a mini city with markets, phones and some internet access, not a secure prison.
- Ideologues still influence life there, keeping extremist ideas circulating among residents.
Escape Attempts Through Gaps
- Gareth recounts seeing groups try to escape through gaps in the fence while guards rounded them up.
- He notes children and Uyghur women waiting with packed bags as if someone would collect them.
