afrinpost – Exclusive
Kurdish civilians residing in the occupied region of Afrin are being targeted by Turkish-affiliated militias through acts of extortion and threats. These nefarious tactics primarily revolve around baseless accusations related to their past associations with the previous Autonomous Administration or Kurdish military entities. The aim behind such actions is to illicitly obtain money from the victims while perpetuating an environment of fear and constant anxiety.
Our correspondent reported a specific incident involving an armed member affiliated with the “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” militia. This individual has been systematically extorting a Kurdish citizen, utilizing old photographs as leverage to extract funds. The militant, identified as “Mohammed Abu Al-Fawz,” has been carrying out his activities within the occupied city of Afrin.
In this troubling episode, approximately six months ago, Abu Al-Fawz threatened the Kurdish citizen, identified as “J.A.,” with the exposure of old photographs taken in Afrin. These images were to be handed over to the Turkish authorities unless a payment was made. Fearing the potential consequences, the targeted citizen felt compelled to purchase a motorcycle for $400, under the condition that the incriminating photographs would be deleted.
However, the perpetrator recently resurfaced and once again subjected the citizen to extortion, demanding a substantial sum of $1300 in exchange for his silence. Fearing reprisal and further harassment, the young man reluctantly paid the demanded amount.
The victim, J.A., aged 32 and hailing from the village of Moseka in the Rajo sub-district, is employed at a tailoring workshop located in al-Ashrafieh neighborhood on the Afrin-Aleppo road.
In a troubling incident, reported on April 20th, the leader of the Turkish-affiliated “Faylaq Al-Majd” militia, known as “Abu Al-Walid,” originally from the town of Barisha in Idlib, was implicated in the abduction and subsequent torture of young men from the village of Zarka. The victims were held captive within the militia’s security headquarters and were only released upon payment of a hefty ransom amounting to $1000.
