The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Ongoing arbitrary arrests in Afrin | al-Jabha al-Shamiyah kidnaps young man of Alawite sect and demands large ransom for releasing him

Aleppo province: SOHR activists have reported that members of Liwaa Saa’d Bin Abi Waqqas, which is affiliated to the Turkish-backed “National Army”, arrested a civilian from Hakaja village in Shaikh Hadid district on November 19, on charges of “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration”, to collect ransom from his parents.

 

On November 15, the military police kidnapped a young man of Alawite sect, who had fled from the military service in regime-held areas and headed towards Turkey. While he was sneaking to Turkey, he was kidnapped by smugglers of al-Jabha al-Shamiyah faction, who asked the young man’s relatives to pay 100,000 U.S dollars and threatened to kill him unless the ransom was not paid. Finally, both sides agreed on a ransom of 18,500 U.S dollars, which was paid in return for the release of the young man.

 

On November 8, the military police arrested a woman from Atmana village in Rajo district on charges of “teaching the Kurdish language during the control of the Autonomous Administration of Afrin city”, and took her to Ma’rata prison.

 

On the other hand, the number of detainees in Iska village only has risen to 28 people, after al-Sham Corps patrol, which is affiliated to the Turkish Intelligence, arrested three civilians including women, on November 3, from Iska village in Jinderes district on charges of “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration”.

 

On November 1, the political security service arrested a civilian from Kuwaira village in Rajo district, on charges of “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration” aiming to collect ransoms for his release, and took him to the Rajo district center in Afrin countryside.