Al-Jabha al-Shamiyah imposes levies on farmers and olive pressers in areas under its control in Afrin, east of Aleppo

SOHR activists have reported that the Turkish-backed factions of the “National Army” have imposed levies on farmers in areas under their control with the beginning of the olive harvesting season.

 

SOHR activists have reported that the Turkish-backed al-Jabha al-Shamiyah has issued a circular ordering its members in Kafr Janna, Ma’rin, Marimin, Jalbal, Qutma and Qastal Jindo villages in Sharran district of Afrin countryside to collect levies from olive farmers, as the levies reached 30% of the farmers’ harvest.

 

Moreover, al-Jabha al-Shamiyah ordered its members to cancel the authorization documents granted by the “Local Council” in Afrin city to the relatives of people who had been displaced from the city.

 

The decision also included confiscation of all of olive trees belonging to these displaced people and imposing of levies of 50% of the harvest of the farmers in Marimin village under the pretext that the village is near the frontlines with the Kurdish forces.

 

SOHR activists also reported that al-Jabha al-Shamiyah’s decision to collect levies also included owners of olive pressers amounting to 25%. Furthermore, al-Jabha al-Shamiyah members stole the agricultural crops on the frontlines with the Kurdish forces, and prevented farmers from reaching their land.

 

Moreover, Ahrar al-Sharqiyah faction had taken over three real estate offices near the “Cultural Centre” in Afrin city in the northern countryside of Aleppo, in addition to offering another building for sale after its construction was completed.

 

Similarly, al-Sultan Murad faction had sold an office belonging to a lawyer who was forced to be displaced from Afrin city for 4500 U.S. dollars, while a displaced civilian from Aleppo who lives in Afrin city had sold his house for 5000 U.S dollars to a civilian from Qamrouk village in Ma’batly district.