Arabic to English Translation*
In the context of the ongoing arbitrary media campaign against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and The Kurds in general, a persistent narrative of hate speech, incitement and threats has been observed as an example, social media platforms have circulated an audio recording archived with us – from an individual Known as “Murssad Joud Abu Ahmad; whose real name is lbrahim Ramadan Al-Sarhan, “from the town of Jarjanaz in Idlib Governorate. He Is one of the militants who accompanied “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” to Damascus and claims to speak on behalf of the “people of Jarjanaz.” In the record, he makes a direct threat against “the Kurds in Afrin and its suburbs, as well as Rajo and its Surroundings,” stating that he would “kill a thousand of them if a single drop of blood is shed from any of the prisoners.” These eight prisoners, originating from Jarjanaz and affiliated with the pro-Turkish joint forces militias, were captured by the SDF during battles in the eastern countryside of Minbeij on March 11, 2025. Additionally, “Murssad Joud” admitted on his Facebook page in a post (content archived with us) dated January 13, 2025 – of sharing threatening and intimidating in audio Clips.” However, he has since deactivated that page.
The following are facts about the current situation:
= Civilian Martyrdom:
On Saturday, January 18, 2025, “Hammoud Omar Barakat, a 29-year-old father of two” from the village of Soghanakeh – Sheirawa, lost his life due to the explosion of a landmine planted beneath a water tank in an abandoned house in the village. A militant from the Joint Forces militias (Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and Al-Hamzat Brigade) had forced him to assist in dismantling the tank for theft purposes. The militant was also injured in the explosion.
= Civilian Injury:
Last week, after “Mustafa Sabri Mustafa“ returned from his displacement in the Shahba region of northern Aleppo to his home in the village of “Mashaleh” – Sharra/Sharran, he reclaimed his house from an occupant (a member of the Sultan Murad Brigade militia) who had taken over the property since 2018. Mustafa paid a fee to regain possession. While attempting to remove a hand grenade left in the house by the militant, the grenade exploded because its safety pin had been removed. “Mustafa” sustained various injuries, resulting in the loss of his right eye and several fingers on his left hand.
= Arbitrary Arrests:
The occupying authorities have carried out the following arbitrary arrests:
- Early December 2024: The brothers “Abdo Mohammed Heeno /28/ years old and Mustafa Mohammed Heeno /26/ years old, from the town of “Meydan Ekbes” – Rajo, were arrested by the “Military Police” militia at the “Tirindeh” checkpoint, south of Afrin, as they were returning with their families from displacement in the Shahba region to their homes. They remain in arbitrary detention.
- Early January 2025: “Adnan Fawzi Hamo /38/ years old, “and over a month earlier, “Dozdar Mohammed Hamo /30/ years old, “from the village of “Korzeileh” – Sheirawa, were arrested by the “Military Police” militia after returning with their families from displacement in the Shahba region of northern Aleppo to their homes. They were accused of ties to the previous self-administration. Their families were forced to flee again to the city of Aleppo due to pressures and the inability to reclaim their homes.
- Early January 2025: “Alaa al-Din Mohammed Zenob Ma’mo /50/ years old, ” from the village of “Naza” – Sharra/Sharran, was arrested by the “Military Police” militia in Afrin city after returning from displacement in the Shahba region of northern Aleppo to his area. He remains in arbitrary detention.
- January 22, 2025: “Ahmed Mohammed Habash /28/ years old” was arrested from his home in the town of Badino by the “Civil Police” militia and taken to the Rajo subdistrict center. He was accused of ties to the previous self-administration, just 20 days after returning with his family from displacement in the Shahba region of northern Aleppo to his home.
= Tree Cutting:
– Since the Joint Forces militias gained control over some remaining villages in Sheirawa, previously under the control of the Syrian army, at the beginning of December 2024, they have launched a large-scale campaign of tree cutting for firewood and trade purposes. Over 2,000 olive trees have been cut down between the villages of “Soghanakeh and Basleh“ – Sheirawa/Jabal Leelon, as well as in the surrounding forested areas on the mountain. The tree cutting continues unabated.
– This month, in the village of “Korzeileh” – Sheirawa, the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade” militias cut down:
/100/ olive trees, approximately 40 years old, belonging to “Hassan Hanan Hamo, “ /50/ olive trees belonging to “Asaad Mahmoud, “ /50/ olive trees belonging to “Fawzi Abdo, “ /250/ pear trees belonging to the children of the late “Ma’mo Hamo, “ and about /500/ pomegranate trees belonging to “Marwan Ma’mo Hamo, Ali Ma’mo Hamo, and Akram Mohu Hamo. “
= Violations by “Faylaq al-Sham“:
- On January 17, 2025: A masked armed group raided the home of “Badirkhan Haj Mohammed son of Mohammed Nouri“ in the town of Meydan Ekbes – Rajo. The group ransacked the house and stole mobile phones, personal belongings, household items, food supplies, olive oil, agricultural equipment, and other valuables. The raid was justified with the accusation that the homeowner was documenting the looting of homes vacated by settlers, from which even doors and windows were stolen. It is worth noting that the town is under the control of the “Faylaq al-Sham” militia, whose leader, Saleel Al-Khalidi, has occupied the farm of Khedr Haji Mohieh at the town’s entrance since 2018 and continues to do so.
- On January 20, 2025: A masked armed group stormed the home of “Hamza Nazmi Hanan/K’ark, “located /2/ km after the “Qarah Baba” village junction on the road to Meydan Ekbes to the north in Rajo subdistrict. The group assaulted Hamza and his wife with beatings and insults, using rifle butts and sticks. They ransacked the home, broke the glass of the doors, and stole cash and gold jewelry. As a result of the attack, the wife miscarried her five-month-old fetus. These villages remain under the control of the “Faylaq al-Sham”.
= Chaos and Lawlessness:
In yet another confirmation of the widespread and systematic armed robberies committed by militias of the so-called “Syrian National Army” under Turkish occupation, on January 13, 2025, a patrol from the General Security apparatus of “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” raided a building used by the “Military Police” militia, led by “Ahmed Jamal Kabso. ” This building, previously the Asayish headquarters in the Al-Mahmoudiyah forest in central Afrin, is now run by Nidal Al-Bayanouni (a former leader of the Al-Hamzat Brigade). The raid freed several forcibly disappeared civilian detainees, whose families had been contacted—with humiliating photos of the detainees—to coerce them into paying large ransoms for their release.
According to Syria’s official SANA news agency on January 14, 2025, “The General Security Directorate handed over the freed abductees to their families following a successful security operation in Afrin city, north of Aleppo province.” Among the released was “Mohammed Ali Al-Haj Hassan, “who had been kidnapped in the town of Al-Safira in Aleppo’s countryside. No further details were provided.
= Other Violations:
- After taking control of the area in early December 2024, Joint Forces militias imposed a fee of /50/ million Syrian pounds on livestock breeders from the village of Soghanakeh – Sheirawa and its surroundings. This fee was for allowing them to graze livestock on lands left fallow since 2018, after the mass displacement of the village’s residents due to its location on the frontline.
- Under pressure from the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade” (Al-Amshat), dozens of residents from the villages of “Masirkeh, Barka, Raaja, Chomazna, and Al-Joro“ – Mobato/Maabatli, who had not yet completed payments of the olive harvest levies imposed on them, were forced to flee their homes and go into hiding to avoid abduction, torture, and humiliation.
Turkey continues its hostile policies against the Kurds in various forms, utilizing its militias, coalitions, interim government, media personnel, and others, translating these policies on the ground into a series of violations and crimes.
25.01.2025
Media Office-Afrin
Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekiti)
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Images:
– The individual “Murssad Joud Abu Ahmad/Ibrahim Ramadan Al-Sarhan” accompanied “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” to Damascus.
– The martyr “Hammoud Omar Barakat”.
– The injured “Mustafa Sabri Mustafa”.
– The raid and robbery of “Hamza Nazmi Hanan/K’ark’s” home”.
– The liberation of “Mohammed Ali Al-Haj Hassan” from the prison of “Nidal Al-Bayanouni”—headquarters of the “Military Police” militia in Al-Mahmoudiyah forest, central Afrin.
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* Under the supervision of the European Organization of the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekîtî).
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