Reacting to murder of youth by al-Hamza Division 20 days ago | “Al-Bu Sha’ban” tribe detains militiamen of “al-Hamza” in Ras al-Ain countryside (Sere Kaniye)

Al-Hasakah province: SOHR activists in “Peace Spring” areas have reported that al-Makran and Um Ezam villages in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) countryside are experiencing growing tension between members of al-Bu Sha’ban tribe and the residents on one hand, and militiamen of the Turkish-backed al-Hamza Division on the other.

 

According to SOHR activists, the tension raised after al-Bu Sha’ban tribe arrested militiamen of al-Hamza Division over the killing of a young man from al-Hadara village in Tel Halaf by a military commander of al-Hamza Division about 20 days ago. The commander had shot the young man dead at “Koua’ Shalah” checkpoint on the road between Ras al-Ain and al-Aaleya for unknown reasons.

 

Meanwhile, fierce clashes erupted in al-Makran and Um Ezam villages between armed men of al-Bu Sha’ban tribe and armed groups of al-Hamza Division, after al-Hamza Division had stormed the villages with the aim to set the militiamen detained by al-Bu Sha’ban free. However, no further details have been reported yet about the number of casualties and material damage caused by these clashes.

 

It is worth noting that the family of the victim had demanded that the perpetrators to be held accountable, but military police in Ras al-Ain did nothing to the killers who remained free.

 

On September 10, SOHR sources reported a demonstration in Sluk town which is under the control of Turkish forces and the factions of the Turkish-backed National Army, as the demonstrators demanded the expulsion of “Suqur al-Sunnah” faction from their town. This demonstration came in light of the circulation of the video footage which showed a young man being tortured and beaten brutally by two members of the factions.

 

According to SOHR sources, the members of “Suqur al-Sunnah” opened fire indiscriminately, when the demonstrators approached to their headquarters in Sluk town, but no casualties were reported.

 

SOHR sources reported earlier that day, rising tension in Sluk town in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah in areas under the control of “Peace Spring” operations room, as the men of “al-Jamilah” tribe (Jais tribe) were seen on high alert, after attempts by members of “Suqur al-Sunnah” faction to seize the house of a prominent figure of the tribe known by his initials as H.A. and forcing him out of his house in the town. It is worth noting that members of the same Turkish-backed faction, “Suqur al-Sunnah”, appeared recently in a video clip, while humiliating, abusing and torturing a young man from al-Raqqah brutally.

 

SOHR activists reported that popular anger was growing among the residents and tribes in Sluk town over the violation and atrocities by Turkish-backed faction, especially after the brutal torture and humiliation of the young man who appeared in the video footage posted yesterday.

 

While on September 9, SOHR sources reported that Turkish-backed factions continued their violations and atrocities against the residents in areas under their control from Afrin and areas in northern and north-eastern countryside of Aleppo to “Peace Spring” areas in al-Hasakah and al-Raqqah countryside. In this context, SOHR obtained a video footage showing two members of “Suqur al-Sunnah” faction of the Turkish-backed Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham torturing a young man from al-Raqqah province brutally in Sluk city in al-Raqqah countryside. The two Turkish-backed militiamen unclothed the young man completely and filmed him while being beaten cruelly for criticizing the faction’s members on social media.