There has been no trace of Cihad Hesen for 109 days. The Hewlêr representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was arrested by KDP’s security forces in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on June 10.
The representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Cihad Hesen, who was arrested by KDP’s security forces in Hewlêr (Erbil), has been missing since June 10. He was detained together with PYD members Mistefa Osman Xelil and Mistefa Eziz Mistê at the airport 109 days ago without giving any reason when they went to receive guests.
Xelîl and Mistê were released after fifty days without being brought before a judge. All inquiries by the AANES about the whereabouts of its Hewlêr representative have so far been fruitless. The question of why he has not been released also remains unanswered.
Under the influence of the Turkish state, human rights violations are increasing in the areas controlled by the Barzanî party KDP in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Activist Ciwana Ebdulbaqî of the women's organization RJAK was also apprehended by KDP forces near Hewlêr and has been held since August 5. Two other women, with whom the RJAK activist was on her way back from a memorial service for the victims of the IS genocide in Shengal, were brought before a court on September 6 and released on bail. There is still no trace of Ciwana Ebdulbaqî.
