afrinpost-exclusive
Turkish-backed militias have continued targeting Kurdish civilians returning to Afrin, with numerous arrests reported in recent days. Among those detained was Chilo Bakr, a 65-year-old resident of Quta village in Bulbul sub-district. Bakr was arrested a day after his return to the village, accused of failing to report to the militia’s headquarters.
In a separate incident, the “Military Police” stationed at the Shatt checkpoint, west of Azaz, arrested several individuals on Wednesday. Those detained included Mohammed Khalil Horo (37) and Ahmed Mohammed Horo (44) from Sheikhurz village in Bulbul sub-district, as well as Omar Sheikh Mohammed (43) from Qastal Miqdad village in Sharan sub-district. The militias also confiscated Sheikh Mohammed’s vehicle during the arrest.
These incidents are part of a larger trend of widespread detentions targeting Kurdish returnees to Afrin. Dozens, if not hundreds, of individuals have been arrested by Turkish-backed militias in recent months. Many are forced to pay financial ransoms for their release, adding to the burdens of those displaced from the Shahba region in northern Aleppo.
