ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish-backed rebel groups are committing serious human rights abuses against civilians in the Kurdish canton of Afrin, northwestern Syria, Amnesty International reported on Thursday. The human rights monitor found evidence of arbitrary detentions for ransom, enforced disappearances, property confiscations, and looting, mostly committed by Syrian groups armed and equipped by Ankara. Displaced people have been prevented from returning to their homes, while those who manage to return often find their property occupied by rebel factions or by displaced Arab families from Eastern Ghouta and Homs, the report said. “As the occupying power, Turkey must provide full reparation to those whose homes have been confiscated, destroyed, or looted by security forces or by their allies. It is Turkey’s duty to ensure that displaced civilians are able to return to their homes in Afrin and are afforded restitution, or where this is not possible, compensation,” said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East Research Director. Amnesty documented at least 86 cases of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance. “Turkey’s military offensive and occupation have exacerbated the suffering of Afrin residents, who have already endured years of bloody conflict. We heard appalling stories of people being detained, tortured or forcibly disappeared by Syrian armed groups, who continue to wreak havoc on civilians, unchecked by Turkish forces,” said Maalouf. Between May and July, Amnesty interviewed 32 people living in, or recently displaced from, Afrin. Interviewees identified Syrian opposition groups Ferqa 55, Jabha al-Shamiye, Faylaq al-Sham, Sultan Mourad, and Ahrar al-Sharqiye as human rights abusers. “I was detained near Afrin for two months. I was transferred to multiple detention facilities including in Maamalou, Damliou, and Baadino, all surrounding villages near Afrin, where I was interrogated by members of two armed groups and Turkey’s armed forces,” one man told Amnesty. “All of the questions focused on my activities on social media, and accused me of being affiliated with the YPG since I reported on violations committed by Turkey during the military operation. “I was taken to the al-Ra’i prison in Azaz operated by Sultan Mourad. I wasn’t tortured, but I saw men being beaten in front of me by members of Sultan Mourad just for fun, and at night the sound of men screaming echoed through the building. I was released without seeing a judge. I thought I would never make it out of there,” he added. Turkish forces were criticized for turning a blind-eye to the activities of these groups and for taking over school building, causing disruption to local children’s education. Afrin University, meanwhile, has been looted and completely destroyed. Amnesty approached the Turkish government for comment on the findings. The human rights monitor claims Ankara did not offer a solid response – merely questioning the researchers’ terminology. “Turkey is the occupying power in Afrin, and therefore is responsible for the welfare of the civilian population and maintaining law and order. So far, its armed forces have failed utterly in these duties,” Maalouf said. “It cannot evade responsibility by using Syrian armed groups to carry out its dirty work. Without further delay, Turkey must end violations by pro-Turkish armed groups, hold perpetrators accountable, and commit to helping Afrin residents rebuild their lives.” Both the Syrian regime and the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) were also criticized for “exacerbating the suffering of people” by blocking free movement “with no apparent reason” and “depriving them of adequate access to education, food and medical care”. Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on January 20 with the stated aim of pushing the YPG away from the Turkish border. Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist organization with links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought a decades-long struggle with the Turkish state for greater Kurdish political and cultural rights. Both groups deny any organic ties. Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies captured Afrin city in March. Footage soon emerged of rebels looting the homes and businesses of Afrin residents and desecrating a statue of Kawa the Blacksmith – a central figure in Kurdish mythology. Ankara condemned the behavior. The Syrian regime has repeatedly demanded Turkish forces withdraw from Afrin. Now that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has recaptured rebel strongholds around Damascus and Daraa – birthplace of the 2011 revolution – he has set his sights on reclaiming the last significant rebel holdouts in northern Syria, particularly Idlib, where Turkey operates command posts.
