“Peace Spring” areas | Turkish-backed factions impose zakat levy on agricultural crops, while committing arsons on frontlines with SDF

SOHR sources have reported today that Turkish-backed factions are forcing farmers in the “Peace Spring” areas to pay 5,000 Syrian pounds for each donum of wheat and barley crops, in addition to paying zakat levy set at six bags of the crop. Some farmers still refrain from harvesting their crops because of these illegal taxes.

Meanwhile, Turkish-backed factions continue committing arsons in Al-Hasakeh countryside, as they have targeted with light and medium weapons wheat crops, causing fires in the villages of Um al-Khair, Lilan Amirt, Madba’a and Al-Amiriya, in the south-western countryside of Tal Tamer, north of Hasakeh, as well as the land which extends from khirbet Sha’ir village to khirbet Jamo, three km south of the town of Abu Racine in Al-Hasakeh countryside.

Turkish-backed factions had imposed new levies of seven bags of the harvest of wheat and barley on farmers and farmlands’ owners, those who refused to leave their areas and pledged allegiance to these factions.

According to SOHR sources, Al-Hamzat faction has informed the Mukhtars (villages’ headmen) and dignitaries of villages under the faction’s control in “Peace Spring” areas, to deliver the levies to the nearest headquarters in Tal Abyad and Ras Al-Ain. The Turkish-backed faction also threatened to set the crops on fire and take larger share of the harvest, if farmers refused their requests.

The factions have seized all farmlands whose ownership documents have not been provided by the remaining residents in the area, so that Turkish-backed factions seized all properties of people who have fled due to the Turkish military operation “Peace Spring”.