Ongoing violations in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions arrest more civilians
Aleppo province: SOHR activists have reported that members of the Turkish-backed military police stationed at a checkpoint in Azaz city in northern Aleppo have arrested a civilian from Qibar village in Afrin countryside, while he was returning from Aleppo city to Afrin city. The civilian was taken to a security centre Mare’ city, but the reasons behind arresting him remained unknown.
Moreover, members of the “Counter-Terrorism” bureau in Azaz city arrested a civilian from Ba’dina village in Raju district, on September 19, while he was escorting his wife to Shamarin hospital for receiving medical treatment. The man was arrested for “Dealing with the Autonomous Administration during its control of Afrin canton”.
On the other hand, the Turkish-backed factions released a young man from Qartqlaq village on September 20, after he paid a bail of 2,000 USD. The young man had been arrested in al-Sena’a neighbourhood on September 12.
While on September 18, Suqur al-Sham faction arrested a civilian from Kamrouq village in Ma’batli district for “communicating with the Autonomous Administration”.
Similarly, the Turkish Intelligence arrested a young man from Ashkan Sharqi village on September 17, as soon as he had returned from Aleppo city to Afrin city.
The Turkish Intelligence also arrested a civilian from Qarnah village in Bulbul district, after he had return to his village, as he was accused of “participating in guarding shifts during the Autonomous Administration’s control of the canton”.
Syrian Observatory activists had reported that over 100 people were arrested arbitrarily in Afrin canton in 50 days, exactly in the districts Sharran, Raju, Sheikh Hadeed, Ma’batli, Shirawa, Bulbul, Jendires and Afrin city.
The following SOHR statistic covered arbitrary arrests and violations committed by Turkish Intelligence and Turkish-backed factions between August 1 and September 20, which targeted civilians living in Afrin canton for various fabricated charges with the aim to collect ransoms.
The arrests and violations in Afrin canton in August 2021 could be distributed regionally as follows:
Bulbul district
- August 2: the military police arrested two women known as “N. K.” and “M. K.”, and they were released later.
- August 7: the military police arrested three men known as “S. R.”, “A. H.” and “S. H.” from Khalil village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 8: Al-Hamza Division arrested four civilians known by their initials as “A. H.”, “S. R.”, “S. H.” and “M. H.” from Khalilku village and beat them cruelly. The fate of the four men remained unknown.
- August 12: the military police arrested two civilians known as “K. M.” and “H. A.” from Kayla village. The two men were released later.
- August 29 and 30: the military police arrested two civilians known as “J. H.” and “J. A.” from Aboudan village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 31: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. A.” from Kayla village, and his fate remained unknown.
Jendires district
- August 1: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. N.” from Kafr Dilli village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 5: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. W.” from Jendires district, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 7: the military police arrested a civilian known as “S. K.” from Hamam village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 10: al-Sham Corps arrested five civilians known by their initials as “A. A.”, “A. H.”, “A. B.”, “I. K.” and “D. M.” from Jalmah village for “performing Self-Defence Duty”. The fate of the four men remained unknown.
- August 11: the military police arrested a civilian known as “J. A.” from Satya village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 12: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. M.” from Kafr Safra village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 14: al-Sham Corps arrested four civilians known by their initials as “H. S.”, “R. S.”, “J. S.” and “S. J.” from Jalmah village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 18: the military police arrested four civilians known by their initials as “S. Z.”, “M. Q.”, “A. Y.” and “A. H.” from Hakajah village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”. The military police took a ransom of 3,000 USD from the men.
- August 25: the military police arrested a civilian woman known as “R. A.” from Khalta village, and her fate remained unknown.
- August 29: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. S.” for “working for the Autonomous Administration” and took a ransom from him.
Sheikh Hadeed district
- August 1: Suleiman Shah faction arrested a civilian known as “G. K.” from Magharijiq village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 2: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. S.” from Sheik Hadeed district, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 18: al-Sham Corps arrested four civilians known by their initials as “S. Z.”, “M. Q.”, “A. Y.” and “A. H.” from Hakajah village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”. The military police asked them for ransoms.
- August 18: the military police arrested a civilian known as “H. S.” from Jalmah village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 19: al-Sham Corps arrested three civilians known by their initials as “M. K.”, “A. K.” and “M. K.” from Magharijiq village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 19: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. S.” from Anqalah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 19: the military police arrested two civilians known as “A. S.” and “M. Q.” from Hakaja village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 20: Al-Jabha al-Shamiyyah arrested two civilians known as “A. K.” and “M. K.” from Shakata village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 31: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. S.” from Anqalah village, and his fate remained unknown.
Sharran district
- August 8: Sultan Murad Division arrested a civilian known as “L. A.” from Ikidam village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 10: Sultan Murad Division arrested 16 civilians known by their initials as “A. S.”, “J. M.”, “B. B.”, “L. A.”, “M. A.”, “A. B.”, “A. B.”, “A. M.”, “A. A.”, “L. H.”, “I. B.”, “F. J.”, “D. J.”, “S. B.”, “R. S.” and “M. B.” from Qartqlaq village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 14: the military police arrested two civilian women known by their initials as “M. A.” and “H. A.” from Qastal Keshk village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 15: Sultan Murad Division arrested a civilian known by his initials as “A. S.” from Qartqlaq village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 16: the military police arrested a man and a woman known by their initials as “A. A.” and “R. A.” from Qatma village, and their fate remained unknown.
- August 22: Sultan Murad Division arrested a man and a woman known by their initials as “R.B.” and “F. T.” from Qartqlaq village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 29: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. B.” from Koblak village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 29: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. B.” from Darweesh village, and his fate remained unknown.
Raju district
- August 1: the military police arrested a civilian known as “H. B.” from Kuran village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 5: the military police arrested a civilian known as “K. H.” from Musaku village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 7: the military police arrested a civilian known as “S. A.” from Midana village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 10: the military police arrested three civilian known by their initials as “A. S.”, “A. K.” and “M. H.” from Ma’mal Oshaghi village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 14: the military police arrested a civilian known as “J. M.” from Kusa village. The man was released later.
- August 23: al-Sham Corps arrested four civilians known by their initials as “K. S.”, “A. S.”, “H. A.” and “A. S.” from Maydan Ikbis for “participating in guard shifts and shooting video clips”.
- August 30: Ahrar al-Sharqiyyah faction arrested four civilians known by their initials as “M. Z.”, “M. H.”, “M. A.” and “L. M.” from Khalatan village, and their fate remained unknown.
Ma’batli district
- August 1: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. A.” from Ma’arsekkah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 2: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. S.” from Buraymijah village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 3: Turkish Intelligence arrested two civilians known as “A. A.” and “K. A.” from Shurbah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 18: the military police arrested a civilian known as “D. M.” from Ifraziyah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 20: the military police arrested a civilian known as “F. M.” from Ma’arsekkah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 23: the military police arrested two civilians known as “M. M.” and “S. A.” from Buraymijah village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 24: the military police arrested a civilian known as “H. A.” from Kurkan village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 25: the military police arrested three civilians known by their initials as “M. M.”. “F. H.” and “A. A.” from Shikunka village, and his fate remained unknown.
- August 29: the military police arrested two civilians known as “H. A.” and “L. R” from Ba’dina village in order to extort them and collect a ransom of 2,000 USD.
Shirawa district
- August 1: the military police arrested a civilian known as “H. Z.” from al-Ziyyarah village and asked him to pay a ransom.
- August 6: Al-Hamzah Division arrested three civilians known as “M. S.”, “I. K.” and “R. Q.” from Faferteen village for unknown reasons.
- August 26: a child known as “M. A.” from al-Qaffas village sustained an injury in his back, after the National Army opened fire on him.
Afrin city
- August 14 and 15: the military police arrested two civilians known as “A. S.” and “H. A.” for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- August 19: a civilian known as “H.” was shot dead by the military police, while he was attempting to cross into Turkey.
- August 22: Suqur al-Ghab faction, led by “Mu’taz al-Abdullah”, killed a civilian known as “H. N.” from Kundi Mazin in Afrin countryside, as he confronted the factions’ militiamen from looting his house.
- August 31: the military police arrested a civilian known as “M. M.” for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
While the arbitrary arrests and violations documented in Afrin canton since early September until September 20 could be summarized as follows:
Ma’batli district
- September 2: the military police arrested a civilian known as “A. S.” from Buraymijah village for unknown reasons.
- September 3: Al-Hamzah Division arrested a civilian known as “J. S.” from Buraymijah village and asked for a ransom of 2,000 USD.
- September 13: the military security service arrested a woman known as “F. S.” from Kurka village for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
- September 14: Turkish Intelligence arrested two civilians known as “S. F.” and “F. A.” from Buraymijah village for unknown reasons.
- September 19: Suqur al-Shamal faction arrested Kamruk village with the aim to collect ransoms.
- September 19: the military police and “al-Jabha al-Shamiyyah” arrested two civilians known as “S. K.” and “D. A.” for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”.
Bulbul district
- September 16: Sultan Murad Division arrested a civilian known as “S. S.” from Qarra Kool village and asked for a ransom of 400,000 SYL.
Shirawa district
- September 12: the military police arrested a woman known as “A. H.” from Kimar village and asked for a ransom of 1,000 USD.
- September 12: Ahrar al-Sharqiyah faction beat a civilian known as “M. H.” from Qarzihal village brutally, just after his return to Afrin.
Afrin city
- September 10: Al-Hamza Division arrested a civilian known as “K. H.”, and his fate remained unknown.
- September 11: Al-Hamza Division arrested a civilian known as “M. M.” over “weapons trafficking”.
- September 19: the military police arrested a civilian known as “G. H.”, just after his return to the city.
Sharran district
- September 16: “Al-Jabha al-Shamiyyah” arrested a civilian known as “M. M.” from Qarrah Baba village and asked for a ransom of 5,000 USD.
- Sheikh Hadeed district
- September 8: “Al-Jabha al-Shamiyyah” arrested a civilian known as “F. M.” from Qarmatlaq, just after returning to his house.
- September 15: Abu Amsha’s brother beat a civilian known as “J. A.” from Qarmatlaq brutally for delaying the payment of a levy of 4,000 USD imposed earlier by Suleiman Shah factions.
Raju district
- September 12: the military police arrested a civilian known as “K. H.” from Kawinda village and asked for a ransom of 5,000 USD.
Jendires district
- September 1: the military police arrested a civilian known as “N. H.” from Ba’dina village and asked for a ransom of 500 USD.
- September 6: the military police arrested five civilian known by their initials as “J. M.”, “H. S.”, “R. B.”, “M. A.” and “K. S.” from Jalmah village and asked for a ransom of 1,500 TL.
- September 8: Liwaa al-Samarqand arrested a civilian known as “M. W.” from Kafr Safra village and asked for a ransom of 10,000 USD.
- September 14: al-Hamza Division arrested a civilian known as “H. K.” from Kafr Zait village and asked for a ransom of 5,000 USD.