Afrin used to be known as one of the safest cities in Syria, but for the last 15 months the city has suffered under the occupation of the Turkish state and their allied gangs. The invasion forces have been committing crimes like abduction, robbery, rape, murder and crimes against humanity in front of the international public’s eyes to see, despite calls by all human rights organizations in the region.

Reliable sources in the region spoke to ANHA and said many new crimes have been committed. Crimes committed by the Turkish army and their allied gangs in Afrin in recent days are as follows:

MURDERS

The invading Turkish soldiers killed civilians Ebdulrehman Shex Ehmed (36) and Henan Hisen (34) in Afrin, without any explanation. Both civilians were travelling from village to village to sell produce with their own cars.

ABDUCTIONS

The invading Turkish soldiers and their allied gangs abduct people from Afrin and hold them for ransom. The latest abductions were brothers Mehmud Ebdulhenan (25) and Ehmed (24) Hesen, Henan Ehmed Hisen (10) and Tahir Cemo Hesen (53) 20 days ago.

A young woman named Asya Heyder who lived in Mabata’s Heyat village was abducted two weeks ago and a civilian named Eli Zeki Betal was abducted from Sherawa’s Basuta village on June 9 by gangs.

There is no current information on the fate of the abducted civilians.

EXTORTION

The Turkish army and their allied gangs have been confiscating all of the harvest citing various excuses, and they abduct civilians for no reason to be released after a ransom is paid. The soldiers and gangs continue to abuse the citizens, and have started to demand extortion money that they call “residency fees”. Villagers in Afrin’s Coqa village are being forced to pay 500 Syrian liras a month.

DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Turkish soldiers and their allied gangs continue their inhumane attacks in the form of destruction of the natural environment as well. The Cela Mountain in the Rajo region, forests and olive groves in the Bilbile district and forest areas in Mabata’s Kelibo village have been set on fire.

MISCELLANEOUS

Gang groups in Afrin have been forcing citizens to purchase the so-called flags of their groups. The flags are sold for 2.000 Syrian liras and are forced on the rooftops of all buildings in the villages.