afrinpost-Exclusive
Sources have informed “afrinpost” that the Osman Agha family, residents of the village of Julbur/Rubarya in the Sharan sub-district, who currently reside in Kurzehil village, are among the well-known families in Afrin. They possess properties and real estate in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood and Trenda Road. However, following the occupation of Afrin, their properties were seized, and projects were initiated on them.
According to our correspondent, the militia “Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham” leased a seized house on Trenda Road to the organization “Al-Ameen for Humanitarian Support,” which has begun relocating its clinic from Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood to the house.
Al-Ameen for Humanitarian Support is one of the Islamist organizations operating in northern Syria, active in areas under Turkish influence in Idlib, with headquarters in the Turkish city of Gaziantep.
The ownership of the house belongs to the descendants of the late Osman Agha, who have repeatedly tried to reclaim their home from the control of Ahrar al-Sham militia, only to be refused and subsequently granted to the mentioned organization.
The seizure of properties belonging to the Osman Agha family has been ongoing, with agricultural lands and real estate in occupied Afrin being gradually taken over by Islamist militias and IDPs loyal to them. Most of these properties are located in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood and Trenda Road, formerly under the control of the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia until their expulsion from Afrin in November 2022.
On January 17, 2020, the Al-Mahaba Hospital for Pediatric Diseases was inaugurated in partnership between the “Qatar Charity” and “Syria Relief and Development.” The ownership of the house where the hospital was opened belongs to the sons of the late Osman Agha.
Subsequently, the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia seized the house, and armed groups from Eastern Ghouta opened a kindergarten in it. However, Turkish authorities converted it into a children’s hospital sponsored by Qatar and Turkey. The house/hospital is located on Trenda Road, at the intersection of Termaneni Quarry, in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood.
On May 17, 2020, IDPs from Deir Jamal seized another land of the family near the New Bridge in central Afrin to build a kiosk on it. The same IDP also seized the Dijla gas station in Mahmoudiya.
On April 19, 2021, IDPs seized more plots from the deceased’s descendants to build shops on them.
On May 30, 2021, the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia also seized another land located near the Wednesday Market “Afrin Bazaar,” owned by the Osman Agha family, and erected barricades around the property, which covers an area of 400 square meters.
On June 6, 2021, “afrinpost” observed the “Majd Al-Islam” group, affiliated with the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia, seizing extensive lands belonging to the Osman Agha family and leasing them to relief organizations (Syria Yardem and Qatari Red Crescent), which oversee the management of the camp established on them. The camp accommodates over 100 tents, equipped with all health facilities, and is inhabited by displaced people from Idlib under the management of “Abu Ahmed Al-Azizi.”
In October 2021, an IDP from the Damascus countryside seized land near the Bazaar Square at the Industrial area end, turning it into a scrap collection site. Another IDP from Eastern Ghouta seized land near “Jabal Afrin Sweets” in Al-Ashrafieh neighborhood, where he established a car tire repair shop.
On January 25, 2022, an armed member of the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia seized a piece of land and began building a car wash on it. When the landowner tried to question him, the armed man threatened him and drove him away from the land to continue preparing the car wash.
On September 29, 2022, “afrinpost” sources confirmed that the “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya” militia continues to build commercial stores on lands belonging to the Osman Agha family, located on Trenda Road in occupied Afrin city. After completing the construction work, the stores were sold for two thousand dollars each, with some being rented out for fifty dollars. The number of stores prepared so far is 40.
On January 30, 2023, “afrinpost” documented IDPs loyal to “Suleiman Shah/Al-Amshat” militia seizing a complete land belonging to the Osman Agha family and setting up tents on it after leveling the ground with cement in occupied Afrin city.
On March 1, 2023, IDPs from Eastern Ghouta seized another land for the family and began construction operations on it by leveling the ground with trucks, spreading gravel, and raising barricades around it.
