The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Arbitrary arrests continue in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions arrest three civilians in Maabatly district

Aleppo province: SOHR activists have reported that Turkish-backed factions have carried out a security campaign in Afrin countryside. A patrol belonging to the military police on November 1, launched arrest campaigns in Amara and Kamrouk villages in Maabatly district in the northern countryside of Afrin.

During the raid, military police arrested three civilians, including two from Kamrouk village and the third one is from Amara village on charges of working in guard shifts during the former Autonomous Administration control on Afrin city. The arrested civilians were taken to the security centers.

On November 1 SOHR activists reported that the Turkish-backed military police operating in areas under the control of factions of the “National Army” continue their violations against the residents of Ma’mal Oshaghi village in Raju district in Afrin countryside, north-west of Aleppo, SOHR sources reported new security campaigns which have targeted the houses of residents in the areas. These security campaigns aimed to arrest civilians arbitrarily and blackmail their families to collect the largest possible ransoms.

In this context, military police arrested eight civilians from Ma’mal Oshaghi village, on November 1, for “dealing with the Autonomous Administration”. The police asked the arrested civilians’ families to pay ransoms of 2,000 TL in return for releasing the detainees.

According to SOHR sources, the military police in Raju district had prepared lists with the names of nearly 100 people from Ma’mal Oshaghi village intended to be arrested for fabricated accusations, including the “dealing with the former Autonomous Administration”, with the aim to collect ransoms.

SOHR sources reported that the military police arrested seven civilians from Ma’mal Oshaghi village in Raju district on Monday for unknown reasons. The arrest of these civilians came as a part of the policy of repressing and blackmailing the people of Afrin.