The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Kidnaps and arrests in less than week | Turkish-backed factions arrest and abduct 18 civilians in “Euphrates Shield” area and “Olive Branch” area

Turkish-backed factions continue their violations against the residents of the areas under their control in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo in “Olive Branch” area and “Euphrates Shield” area.

In this context, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) activists have documented 18 arrests and abductions by Turkish-backed factions from December 23 to December 28. Among the arrestees were five Kurdish people, while among the kidnapped persons were two civilians.

Here are further details about the arrests and abductions by Turkish-backed factions:

 

December 23: Members of Turkish-backed Al-Sultan Suleiman Shah “Amshah” faction arrested five Kurdish people in two villages in Afrin countryside in “Olive Branch” area, northeast of Aleppo.

December 24: A military police patrol arrested five residents of Maydan Akbas village in Raju district in Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo on December 22. Among the detainees was a woman. The civilians were arrested following attending the mourning of a villager who was killed in Turkey and was working for the PKK. Meanwhile, a military police checkpoint on Raju-Afrin road arrested an engineer from Alamdar village in Raju district of Afrin countryside for “working in Autonomous Administrations institutions during their control over Afrin,” in order to collect a ransom.

 

December 25: A joint patrol of Turkish Political Security and Intelligence Service arrested three civilians on December 23, two people from Shenkilyah village in Bulbul district and another civilian from Maidan Akbas village in Raju district for “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration.”

 

December 25: Members of Asifat Al-Shamal Brigade kidnapped a resident of Azaz city in the northern Aleppo countryside on the orders of a faction leader over disagreements between two civilians over a plot of land in Azaz city. The leader of Asifat Al-Shamal faction intervened in favour of a civilian, forcing the other one to give up the plot of land by force of arms.

December 28: Armed members of Ahrar Al-Sham movement kidnapped two young men from Al-Hasakah on their way to a “smuggler” in Al-Bab city in the eastern countryside of Aleppo to cross into Turkey on the road between the cities of Al-Bab and Al-Ra’i. 25,000 USD was in the two men’s possessions.

Turkish-backed factions continue to pursue a policy of arbitrary extrajudicial arrests in order to extend their influence and impose their control over the area and prevent voices from opposing them.

These arrests are done with the aim of collecting ransoms in exchange for the release of detainees and abductees. Most of these arrests are carried out on flimsy and unreal charges, such as “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration.” The arrests and abductions are carried out in full view of the Turkish forces present in the area.