The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Peace Spring” areas in July 2021 | Nearly ten people arbitrarily arrested, while internal conflicts among Turkish-backed factions continue

Violations against human rights have been escalating in areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxy factions in al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah, known as “Peace Spring” areas since they were captured in October 2019. These forces’ aim is to accomplish specific economic and political objectives through exploiting the region’s bounties, resources and people.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked all developments and violations committed in “Peace Spring” areas in July 2021.

 

In July, three people were killed in “Peace Spring” areas, and they were as follows:

 

  • A member of al-Hamza Division was killed in armed fight with members of the same faction in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kanye).

 

  • A member of Jaysh al-Sharqiyyah was killed in armed fight with members of the same factions in Ras al-Ain city.

 

  • A militiaman of the national Army was killed in clashes with SDF in al-Tarwaziyah village in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah.

 

Meanwhile, violations continued in “Peace Spring” areas, as SOHR documented, in June 2021, the arbitrary arrest of nine people, including one women, in Tel Abad city and countryside in al-Raqqah province, Ras al-Ain countryside (Sere Kanye) in al-Hasakah province. Five of these people were released, while the four others have been still detained.

 

SOHR also documented two armed fights among the Turkish-backed factions on July 10 and 25, and they were concentrated in Ras al-Ain city. These fights left several casualties and caused a state of panic among the region’s residents.

 

On the other hand, Turkish-backed factions continued the excavation work in Tel al-Jihash in the countryside of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kanye), searching for artifacts and treasures.

 

Reliable SOHR sources confirmed that members of al-Hamza Division exhumed the tombs after they expanded the excavation operations for nearly a month, where they targeted the “Yazidis” tombs, as Yazidis used to bury their dead people with their precious belongings including gold, silver and other valuables.

 

Turkish-backed factions, particularly al-Hamza and Sultan Murad Divisions are working on exploring archaeological sites and digging them, including the archaeological Tel Halaf and other districts in the old city of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kanye) like al-Abra and al-Kharaba.

 

SOHR sources added that Turkish-backed factions searched for antiquities under the pretext of searching for SDF old tunnels in the city.

 

On July 4, the Municipal Council of Ras al-Ain city (Sere Kaniye) issued a decision that obligated the new comers to the city to issue a new ID cards after getting security approvals by the Turkish-backed civil police.

 

The decision, of which the Syrian Observatory obtained a copy, read “ administrative decision: issuance of ID cards for the newcomer from outside Ras al-Ain city requires the following document:

 

  • Original personal ID.

 

  • The newcomers should have been stayed in Ras al-Ain city for more than 15 days.

 

  • Receiving approvals from the civil police leadership in Ras al-Ain city.

 

Overall, this bleak picture remains in place with the widespread corruption and tyranny of the Turkish-backed factions without any deterrent preventing them from committing further humanitarian crimes against Syrian civilians in the “Peace Spring” areas.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights therefore renews its call to the international community not to abandon its responsibility and obligations and find a lasting solution to the tragedy of the region’s civilians that are plagued with systematic practices and violations committed by lawless factions, including thefts, murders, looting, arrests and kidnappings.