afrinpost – Exclusive
Armed members of the Turkish-allied “Sultan Murad” militia have been reportedly involved in illegal digging and artifact looting along the road connecting Afrin city to Rajo district, according to our reporter. The militia members are said to be digging on a small hill located near the Mobata/Maabatli junction, using heavy machinery (excavators) in search of hidden treasures.
Local sources also revealed that the “Samarkand” militia has cordoned off a piece of land in the village of Rûta, which is part of Mobata district, for archaeological excavation, despite the fact that the village is a protected archaeological area where cutting down trees and digging is prohibited.
A recent report by American analyst Thor Redcrow, published by the Kurdish Studies Center on April 4th, highlighted that the Turkish forces has looted 35 historical hills in various parts of Afrin, in addition to desecrating graves in search of gold and valuable items. Over 16,000 historical artifacts have reportedly been smuggled and sold illegally to museums in Turkey.
