The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Ongoing violations | “National Army” factions continue to cut down olive trees and sell civilians’ properties in Afrin

Aleppo province: Members of Al-Hamza division cut down more than 100 olive trees in the villages of Juwaiq in Afrin countryside and Kamruk in Maabatli district to sell them as fire logs.

Al-Hamza members threatened the owners of the olive trees with imprisonment and arrest if they lodged complaints against them to Military Police or Turkish forces.

Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Murad faction cut down nearly 100 olive trees in Qarqina village in Sharan district in Afrin countryside. These olive trees are owned by a displaced man who was evacuated from Sharan district.

Moreover, “Al-Jabha Al-shamiyyah” militiamen sold a house in Al-Ashrafieh neighbourhood in Afrin for 800 USD. The house is owned by a civilian from Kakhirah village in Maabatli district.

Furthermore, Al-Jabha Al-shamiyyah members sold two flats for 750 USD per flat.
The two flats are owned by a man from Karkul village in Bulbul district in Afrin countryside.

 

In July 2022, SOHR documented over 47 other violations committed by Turkish-backed factions, distributed as follows:

 

-20 incidents of selling displaced people’s houses which had been forcibly seized earlier by Turkish-backed factions. The houses were sold at low prices and in US dollars in particular.

 

-Two incidents of seizure of farmlands by members and commanders of the “National Army” factions, and these farmlands were sold to displaced people at low prices.

 

-Eight incidents of imposition of levies on civilians by factions and military police; they are as follows:

 

Four incidents related to the imposition of levies in return for the release of detainees.

A levy was imposed by Sultan Murad faction on drivers in Sharan district.

A levy was imposed by Al-Hamza Division on a civilian from Afrin in return for allowing him to build a house.

A levy was imposed by Al-Hamza Division on drivers in Bulbul district.

A levy was imposed by Malak Shah faction on farmers in Sharan district.

-Five incidents of felling fruit-bearing trees by factions of Turkish-backed “National Army,” where over 475 olive trees were cut down in several areas in villages and districts of Afrin.

 

-Seven thefts were carried out by “National Army” factions, including looting of home appliances, doors and windows, as well as 150 sheep and 20 tins of olive oil.