afrinpost- Exclusive
The indigenous Kurdish community in Afrin remains in a perpetual state of unease and insecurity, as Ankara-backed militias continue to carry out criminal activities, assaults, and violations with impunity. Despite the alarming frequency of these incidents, the security apparatus aligned with Turkey has yet to implement effective measures or hold its forces accountable, allowing the ongoing victimization of Kurdish civilians to persist.
In a recent incident reported by our correspondent, four unidentified, armed assailants infiltrated the residence of 70-year-old Kurdish citizen Hameed Mustafa in the village of Mamalla on the night of January 4. The masked intruders forcibly restrained Hameed, along with his wife Fatima Hanaan and their 25-year-old daughter Gulistan. The victims were subjected to physical assault, with the assailants wielding sticks, resulting in severe injuries. Furthermore, the assailants ransacked the residence, robbing the elderly woman and her daughter of their gold jewelry, mobile phones, $900 in cash, and an additional $4,500 intended for safekeeping. Hameed sustained a broken hand during the assault, while his wife suffered extensive bruising.
It is noteworthy that the Ninth Division militia controls Mamalla village and operates a checkpoint at the village intersection. Additionally, a joint checkpoint exists between the Ninth Division, Ahrar al-Sharqiya militias, and the military police militia at the intersection of Chaqmaqa village, adjacent to Mamalla village.
These distressing attacks against elderly Kurds, marked by violence and plunder, have unfortunately become distressingly commonplace at the hands of Ankara-backed militias. Notably, on the night of May 6, 2023, an armed and masked group targeted an elderly Kurdish couple from the village of Karê/Al-Saghir in the Bulbul district, subjecting them to a violent robbery of their savings in occupied Afrin.
The assailants forcibly entered the home of 70-year-old citizen Fawzi Khalil Habbash (Abu Salam) in Karê village, physically assaulting him, confining him and his deaf wife to a room, and issuing threats to ensure silence. The group proceeded to loot $400, 1500 Turkish lira, two mobile phones, and three gas cylinders.
Another incident occurred on June 11, 2023, when an armed group associated with Faylaq al-Sham Islamist militia, occupying the village of Nureh/Sheikh Mohammadli in the Rajo district, brutally attacked 65-year-old citizen Kamal Hasan Mannan. Utilizing gun butts and iron tools, the assailants inflicted head injuries, causing him to lose consciousness. Villagers discovered him at dawn the following day and promptly transported him to a medical facility for urgent treatment.
