Afrin Post-Exclusive
The forcible seizure of properties belonging to Kurdish citizens remains a prevalent issue in the Afrin region, after six years of its occupation. Additionally, land appropriation by Ankara-backed militias for personal interests continues unabated.
In the town of Şiyê/Sheikh al-Hadid, Mohammed Hussein al-Jassem/Abu Amsha, purported leader of the militia Sulaiman Shah/Al-Amshat, forcefully evicted elderly Kurdish citizen Fatima Azat Bakr from her residence in the Sheikh Al-Hadid town. This incident, as documented in the weekly report by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party dated 9th March 2024, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Kurdish inhabitants.
Recent occurrences include armed members of Al-Amshat seizing multiple properties owned by Kurdish citizens. Forceful evacuations were carried out to accommodate families affiliated with Abu Amsha. Among the affected properties are those belonging to:
- Sido Haj Ibrahim Shekho, whose newly constructed residence, intended for habitation, was occupied by the fourth wife of Abu Amsha.
- Khalil Siwah, a forcibly displaced individual, whose house was usurped following the expulsion of an IDP family.
- Ibrahim Hashem, an expatriate, who lost possession of his property after his brother’s expulsion from it.
Furthermore, houses belonging to citizens Hassan Mustafa Cholaq and Osman Abdou Zalkheh were also seized.
These incidents follow the establishment of a legal office by the Joint Force, an alliance comprising Hamzat and Amshat militias. This initiative, announced in early February last year, purported to address residents’ grievances and restore their rights with the involvement of representatives from the Kurdish community and other official institutions.
In a separate development, Sheikh Hussein, sibling of Abdul Karim Jamal Qasum, leader of Brigade 112 militia, initiated construction activities on a piece of land known as Jeb Shaabo in the town of Ba’dina. This undertaking, aimed at personal benefit, encroaches upon land previously donated to the public by the Shaban family. The deceased grandfather, Haj Shaban, contributed the land for the public’s benefit, with a well for drinking water, while the former Autonomous Administration established a public park around it.
Another concerning incident involves Abbas Al-Hamad/Abasi, a leader of Brigade 112 militia, who forcibly prevented Kurdish citizen Mannan Mohammed Ibesh from operating a sewing workshop. This coercive action led to Mannan’s eviction from his residence in the town center.
Meanwhile, a malicious lawsuit filed by a member of Al-Waqas Brigade against citizen Inayat Bakr from the village of Ashkan Gharbi – Jindires district remains unresolved in the occupation court. Despite the expulsion of the Al-Waqas militia from the village, Bakr’s relatives refrain from testifying in his favor due to fear of retaliation. The baseless lawsuit, filed for extortion purposes, underscores the persistent challenges faced by Kurdish inhabitants in the region.
The occupation of Ashkan Gharbi – Jindires district by the Al-Waqas militia in 2018 resulted in the confiscation of Bakr’s property, forcing him to seek alternative accommodation in the town of Jindires. However, in October 2022, the Sulaiman Shah/Al-Amshat militia reclaimed control of the village, enabling Bakr to regain possession of his house.
