afrinpost-exclusive
Afrin, Syria – Our sources in Afrin report ongoing incidents of extortion and property disputes involving displaced residents returning to the Afrin region. According to our reporter, an IDP from the Qalamoun region extorted $2,000 from local resident Mohammed Shaaban, originally from the village of Ain al-Hajar al-Saghir in Ma’batli sub-district. The payment was demanded in exchange for vacating Shaaban’s home in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood of Afrin, which had been seized in 2018. Shaaban had recently returned from Lebanon to live in his hometown.
Additionally, another IDP, identified as Mohammed Ali, also known as “Abu Ali al-Kurdi” and originally from Eastern Ghouta in rural Damascus, extorted $1,500 from Kurdish resident Ahmed Hussein Hussein, originally from the al-Bab region. The IDP falsely claimed that Hussein was wanted by security forces, alleging his name was listed in police records. It was later discovered that this accusation was fabricated. Hussein, who had been deported from Turkey some time ago, is currently residing in Afrin.
In a separate incident, an IDP from rural Deir ez-Zor is refusing to vacate the home of Afrin resident Mohammed Nuri Dawood unless he pays $1,500. The IDP had divided the home into two parts, occupying one portion with his family and renting the other to a second family. The tenant is also demanding an additional $800 to vacate their portion of the home.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by displaced residents of Afrin, who continue to face extortion and difficulties in reclaiming their properties after years of displacement.
