The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Ongoing violations | Turkish-backed factions seize civilians’ properties and impose levies on farmers as olive harvest season started in Afrin

Aleppo province: With the start of the olive picking season in Afrin, farmers face difficulties and challenges such as the unsanctioned atrocities and heinous practices of Turkish forces and their proxy factions controlling Afrin and the imposition of levies on farmers under the pretext of protection and theft of olive fruits by the National Army factions.

In this context, SOHR activists have reported that during the past few days, Soqour Al-Sham faction had seized nearly 25 olive trees and stolen the entire olive season. The olive trees are owned by a civilian from Maabatli district in Afrin countryside.

Moreover, members of Al-Hamza faction stole the crop of 15 olive trees in Maaratah village, west of Afrin.

The owner of the olive trees tried to file a complaint against the faction, but the residents warned him not to file the complaint, fearing that the faction would fabricate a charge against him and arresting him under fake charge of “dealing with ” Autonomous-Administration.”

Meanwhile, the leader of Al-Sultan Murad faction called on the mayors and heads of councils in the faction-controlled areas of Sharan district in Afrin countryside, and informed them of the need to conduct a complete census of the olive crop area and the number of olive groves in the faction-controlled area, to impose levies on farmers, under the pretext of protecting the olive trees from stealing.

The levies imposed on farmers range from 10 % to 20 % of the profit of the olive season.

The faction also appointed delegates in the oil press to collect the levies directly from the farmers.

 

As Turkish-backed faction continue committing violations against residents and their properties in Afrin, SOHR activists reported that members of the Al-Mu’tasim Division sold five houses in areas under the faction control in Afrin, near the entrance to Afrin city from the Azaz side for 1,000 USD each.

The houses are owned by civilians from Jenderes, Bulbul and Sharan districts of Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo.

This comes in light of the ongoing clamping down on civilians by National Army factions in Afrin to prompt them to leave their houses.

 

On September 18, As Turkish-backed factions in Afrin continue their violations against the civilians in Afrin and with the approach of the olive harvest season, SOHR activists reported that “Soqour Al-Sham faction, led by a man know by his initials as “H.K.” and which impose control over nearly ten villages in Bulbul district, Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo, has imposed large levies on the farmers as olive harvest season approached.

 

Soqour Al-Sham faction imposed levies of 20% on the crop of olive oil, and the faction appointed delegates in the oil press to collect the levies directly from the farmers.

Meanwhile, Al-Sultan Murad faction led by Abu Walid Al-Azza imposed levies on the farmers in areas under the control of Al-Sulatn Murad faction in Bulbul district.

The faction imposed levies of 15 % of olive oil on every farmer and levies of 25 % on olive press owners.

The faction also forces the farmers to employ workers only through the faction delegates and not appoint any workers from areas which are not under their control.

In August 2022, SOHR activists documented nine incidents of imposition of levies on civilians by National Army factions and military police; They are as follows:

 

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

Four incidents of imposing levies ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 USD on farmers and constructors in return for allowing them to construct residential buildings.