afrinpost-Exclusive
In the occupied city of Afrin, the unjust disposal of properties owned by Kurdish locals persists, involving sales and leases under flimsy pretexts to extract financial gains. The return of these properties to their rightful owners is prolonged, often contingent upon exorbitant payments equivalent to their original purchase values.
According to our correspondent, an IDP named “Suleiman Haj Ali,” originating from Al-Ghouta region, has sold the house of Kurdish citizen “Ahmed Khalil” from the village of Ba’dina in Rajo district. The property, situated on the Mazout street, was sold for a sum of $1,300. Suleiman has a history of engaging in the trade of homes seized from Afrin locals, having previously sold over ten properties at different times.
The correspondent added that the militia “Sultan Murad’s” security forces, in collaboration with a militant from the “Suqour al-Sharqiya” militia known as “Abu Al-Fawz,” of Kurdish origin, seized a house in the Old City of Afrin. The property originally belonged to Kurdish citizen “Hameed Aref” from the village of Ba’dina. The militia now rents the property for personal gain after selling the house’s furnishings.
In another incident, approximately a week ago, the armed group led by “Abu Rahmo” within the “Sultan Murad” militia returned the house of citizen “Mohammed Habib” in the Old City of Afrin for a substantial amount of $2,000. This amount surpasses the usual payments for reclaimed homes. The militia had been renting the house for themselves, demanding a rental fee of fifty dollars, delaying its return to the owner who returned to Afrin over a year ago from displacement areas.
Furthermore, a confrontation erupted yesterday in the Bubanna neighborhood of the Old City of Afrin between an IDP from Ghouta and the homeowner, “Mohammed Nabbhan,” over the evacuation of the property. As the homeowner sought assistance from his cousin working for the “Hamzat” militia.
Our correspondent refuted any reports of gunfire during the altercation, contrary to circulated information from sources affiliated with armed groups and militias. These sources propagated news of violent clashes, mobilizing the Bubanna tribe and involving military police forces to escalate tensions. The correspondent confirms that the IDP adamantly refused to vacate the house.
On another note, the so-called “Economic Office” in the “Ahrar al-Sham” militia inspects shops in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood and the entire industrial zone. They seize any shop whose owner is absent from the city, subsequently renting it for the benefit of the militia. The militia seals the shops with red wax until a lease agreement is arranged, having rented out more than 280 shops to date.
It is worth noting that the Turkish-affiliated “Al-Hamza/Al-Hamzat” militia recently increased the imposed fees on commercial shops and stalls in the Tilal Market in the city of Afrin. The fees now stand at 200 Turkish liras for commercial shops and 300 Turkish liras for stall owners monthly, significantly elevated from the previous 50 liras.
