afrinpost-Exclusive
Turkish-affiliated armed militias persistently engage in the theft of olives in the occupied region of Afrin. Over the years, they have seized hundreds of thousands of trees, implementing peculiar levies on fields and oil production. Despite recent directives aiming to prevent such violations during the olive season, these orders seem more symbolic than practical.
Recently, the Ministry of Defense of the so-called Temporary Syrian Government appealed to the armed militias in Afrin to facilitate olive harvesting for farmers, exempting them from any taxes. This move sought to curb past transgressions against the fields, which play a crucial role in the livelihoods of the local population.
However, these directives appear to be ineffective, and there’s little expectation of their implementation. Instead, they seem more like a publicity stunt, portraying a military authority overseeing the situation. The objective is to provide a favorable media image for the Turkish authorities in Afrin and its affiliated militias at no cost, without genuine actions.
Ironically, the militia led by “Sultan Murad,” notably Abu Waleed Al-Azza, violated the reissued order, continuing to seize hundreds of thousands of olive trees in the Bulbul and Sharan sub-districts. The militia imposes high levies on olive fields, contradicting the spirit of the recent directive.
A report by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party’s Yekiti, published on November 11, 2023, highlighted ongoing violations against the olive season. It noted that since the armed militias took control of Afrin, predominantly Kurdish, in early 2018, encroachments on olive fields have increased.
The reported olive thefts by the “Sultan Murad” militia include:
- 100 trees from Ahmed Rasho Khillo, forcibly displaced.
- 80 trees from Ahmed Hannan Joulak, forcibly displaced.
- 450 trees from the heirs of the late Abdul Rahman Mustafa Hoori, forcibly displaced.
- 300 trees from Hussein Muhammad Sheikho, who returned six months ago to his village.
- 500 trees from the heirs of the late Eisha Ahmed Mammosh, forcibly displaced.
- 1000 trees from Hassan Saydo Bilal, forcibly displaced.
- 800 trees from Nizmi Ibo, who returned two years ago.
Furthermore, the “Sultan Murad” checkpoints are confiscating olive bags (each weighing around 85 kg) from passing shipments.
In the village of Dumlya, Sharan sub-district, Abu Hassan Obama, the deputy leader of the “Brigade 112” militia, seized the harvest of about 200 olive trees belonging to the forcibly displaced family of Bakr Mousa, despite their service and expenses in the village for the past two years.
Olive harvesting season, known as “Al-Muawama,” operates on a two-year cycle. The service is required over the two years, involving costs from field care to transportation. However, militias exploit olive harvesting at various stages, imposing additional levies in the form of taxes and threats. Reports indicate that the olive season in Afrin is practically over, with militias imposing extra levies on olive presses under different names, further adding to the losses of farmers.
Additionally, many citizens face abduction on fabricated charges, later being blackmailed for levies to secure their release. This has led to significant losses, effectively concluding the olive season.
