Ongoing violations in Afrin | Pro-Turkey factions continue to kidnap and extort civilians

Aleppo province: Kidnapping operations and extorting civilians for money have noticeably escalated in Afrin area, where pro-Turkey factions directly target civilians, demanding large ransoms from the families of the kidnapped people to release them. This comes in light of ongoing violations and absence of law.

On October 15, members of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” kidnapped a man from Joueq village, while he was returning from  Aleppo city, where his fate remains unknown.

It is worth noting that the man had obtained an official permit from the military police allowing him to travel between the two areas.

While on October 12, members of “Al-Hamzah Division” kidnapped a man from Kimar village in Shirawa district, after he had refused to pay a levy to take back his house and agricultural land, where his whereabouts and fate remain unknown.

On the other hand, a man from Jindires district was released, after having paid 4,000 USD. The man had been kidnapped on October 3 by members of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” stationed at “Qastal Jando” checkpoint and seized his car which was loaded with car spare parts.

Meanwhile, members of the military police arrested a woman and her brother from Basoutah village, while they were visiting each others in Afrin, where the faction’s members asked for a large sum of money for their release.

Similarly, a man from “Talaf” village was kidnapped by gunmen of “Al-Hamzah Division,” while he was riding his motorcycle in western Afrin.

Furthermore, members of “Al-Sultan Murad” Division kidnapped a civilian from Afrin, after he had tried to prevent one of the faction’s members from stealing his motorcycle near the old garage. He was taken to the faction’s headquarters instead of stopping the member.