Arabic to English Translation*
We reiterate that the Turkish occupation remains in place. The governor continues to perform his duties in the old Saray building, where the Turkish flag is still raised. Moreover, Turkish military, security, and intelligence headquarters remain present, along with most of the militias formerly known as the “Syrian National Army,” which continue to maintain their military headquarters, security offices, and economic institutions. These groups engage in violations, intimidate and extort local residents, impose levies, and seize property. Although the General Security Service intervenes in certain cases, victims of these violations often refrain from filing complaints against the perpetrators for fear of facing even worse consequences.
The following are facts about the current situation:
= Civilian Casualty:
On March 3, 2025, “Hamid Ahmad Hassan /60/ years old, “a resident of “Auquibeh” village – Sheirawa, lost his life after stepping on a landmine left behind from the war, which detonated in his olive field west of “Auquibeh, ” near the village of “Basileh. ” His brother was also injured in the explosion.
= Assault on Civilians:
– On March 3, 2025, while heading to Mount Hawar to collect firewood, “Rizgar Manan Mamo /41/ years old, ” a poor resident of “Hassandeira” village – Bulbul, attempted to prevent two dogs and a minor from attacking his own dog. The minor’s mother then called her husband, who arrived and struck “Rizgar” on the head with an iron rod, causing a severe injury. Villagers rushed him to the Maydanki clinic and later to a hospital in Afrin, where he was diagnosed with head hemorrhaging and a hairline skull fracture. The assailant, known as “Ghawar” (around 50 years old), fled to an unknown location. He is one of the resettled individuals living in tents west of the village, works as a shepherd, and has a history of violent assaults.
– On March 10, 2025, shortly before Iftar, “Nidal Sabri Shendi /48/ years old, ” a resident of “Dumilya” village – Rajo, was closing his clothing shop in the Abbara building in central Afrin when he was attacked by two armed men. The assailants stabbed him multiple times in the lower limbs, causing severe injuries. He was transported to a hospital in Afrin for urgent medical care, while the attackers managed to escape. The assault was reportedly motivated by his refusal to sell clothing on credit to the perpetrators.
– in Aboudan Village it is clarified from facts that the “Elite Army” militia, led by “Moataz Raslan, ” has expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to dissolve the group and integrate it into the Ministry of Defense. Consequently, its forces and headquarters remain intact, and the families of its fighters and affiliates have not vacated the villages under their control, including (“Amara, Sheikhehutka”- Mobato/Maabatli, “Zaytounak, Omarsmo, Sheikhurz, Haftaro, Sa’rinjak, Ali Jaro, Daraqliya, and Aboudan” – Bulbul…). The militia was particularly displeased with the agreement signed between President Ahmad Al-Shar’a and Commander Mazloum Abdi. On March 11, 2025, the day following the agreement, militia members and their families began hurling insults and making threats against Kurdish residents in “Aboudan” village. A specific incident escalated when a ball, played by local Kurdish children, accidentally landed in the yard of a house occupied by a resettled family. In response, Elite Army members raided the home of “Mahmoud Aslan Sido /40/ years old, ” fired gunshots into the air, and arrested both “Mahmoud” and his minor son, “Aslan, ” who had been hiding inside a room. They were subjected to severe physical assault until General Security forces intervened and secured their release.
Despite this intervention, threats and harassment against the villagers persisted, prompting men and some women from the village to travel to Afrin and file multiple complaints with General Security leadership. As a result, a security patrol was dispatched to Aboudan, leading to the arrest of “Samir and Bassam Rahal/originally from rural Homs, ” who were overseeing the village on behalf of the Elite Army. The security forces also confiscated the weapons in their possession, bringing a degree of stability to the village.
Additionally, the Elite Army militia recently prohibited citizen “Mustafa Jamo” from cultivating his 100-tree olive grove, as the militia has been using the land for charcoal production. Since 2018, the group has seized his harvests and taken control of two houses built on the land, which belong to Jamo’s two daughters, who were forcibly displaced along with their families.
It Is worth noting that Aboudan village was originally home to approximately /150/ Kurdish families. However, following its occupation in 2018, only /50/ families remain, while the rest have been unable to return. Meanwhile, /150/ resettled families have been relocated to the village.
= Thefts:
– According to a local source, the militias of the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Division- Amshat/62nd Division under the Ministry of Defense, ” led by “Mohammad Al-Jassim, ” have looted numerous properties from the Syrian coastal regions. Two trucks loaded with household electrical appliances, along with cars and an undisclosed number of cattle, were transported to Shiyeh town/Sheikh Al-Hadid in Afrin, where they were put up for sale.
– In Maydanki town, on March 11, 2025, two armed men on a motorcycle held citizen “Mahmoud Mohammed Abdulrahman /61/ years old” at gunpoint while he was in his olive grove west of the town. They tied his hands and feet, placed him inside his black Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, and after driving a short distance, threw him by the roadside before stealing the vehicle, $900 in cash, his personal documents, and car papers. “Mahmoud” later filed a complaint with the “General Security “offices in Sharra/Sharran subdistrict and Afrin city.
– In “Omar Simo” village – Sharra/Sharran subdistrict, on the evening of March 14, 2025, “Elite Army” militia members broke into the home of “Fawzi Hanan Omar” while his family was visiting relatives, stealing six tins of olive oil (each containing 16 kg of pure oil) and internet equipment. Additionally, citizen “Othman Rashid” had previously paid a sum of U.S. dollars to a militia official known as “Abu Awd” in exchange for reclaiming his house and olive fields. Meanwhile, three families from the village who returned six months ago are still awaiting the evacuation of their homes, which have been occupied since 2018, along with the restitution of their other properties.
= Other Violations:
– For about a month, an individual known as “Abu Hussein, ” accompanied by two armed members of the “Hamzat Division” militia, has been threatening and extorting anyone visiting their olive fields in the quarry area between the villages of “Hassandeira – Bulbul and Shorba – Maabatli” for farming, pruning, or other agricultural activities. Victims are forced to pay money after being falsely accused of offenses or having a weapon planted in their fields to fabricate charges against them.
– On March 10, 2025, in “Jaqla Wastani” village – Shiyeh/Sheikh Al-Hadid subdistrict, which is controlled by the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Division – Amshat militia, ” a van-type salon car belonging to citizen “Ali Sheikh Zainal/Ali Khajkeh” was set on fire. According to a local source, the victim recognizes the perpetrators, who are among the resettled newcomers backed by the “Amshat” militia, but he did not dare disclose their identities during the investigation for fear of further reprisals.
The deliberate obstruction of displaced Afrin residents from returning to their homes, along with the delays in evacuating their properties and returning them to their rightful owners, as well as the slow repatriation of resettled populations to their original areas, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and hinder efforts to stabilize Syria as a whole.
15.03.2025
Media Office-Afrin
Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekiti)
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Images:
– Martyr: “Hamid Ahmed Hassan. ”
– Assaulted: “Rizgar Manan Ma’mo. ”
– Assaulted: “Nidal Sabri Shendi. ”
– Leader of the “Elite Army” militia: “Moataz Raslan. ”
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* Under the supervision of the European Organization of the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekîtî).
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