afrinpost-exclusive
A recent report by the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria, released on Saturday, August 17, 2024, reveals that Mohammad al-Jassem, also known as “Abu Amsha,” the leader of the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade,” has imposed new extortion levies on the residents of Sheikh Hadid (Şiyê) and surrounding villages in the Afrin region. The targeted villages include Ashkan Gharbi, Marwaniyah (upper and lower), Hekejeh in Jindires sub-district, and several smaller neighboring villages.
The extortion demands range from $100 per family, $200 per business, to $300-$500 per well. This latest round of forced payments is part of a recurring pattern of monthly extortion by the militia, targeting the remaining Kurdish residents in areas under their control. The report estimates the total amount demanded from the listed villages at approximately $500,000.
According to the report, Abu Amsha collected around $120,000 from the same villages in July 2024 and extorted approximately $27 million during the last olive harvest season alone. These funds are imposed on returning families, agricultural yields, the digging of wells, alleged connections to the former Autonomous Administration, in addition to levies collected at militia checkpoints.
In a related incident, afrinpost received an audio recording from Aref Mohammad Ali, a member of the local council in Maabatli, urging Kurdish families in the town to pay $100 per family within two hours. The message, delivered in a threatening tone, highlights the oppressive environment under the control of Abu Amsha’s militia
Aref Ali
Currently, around 550 Kurdish families remain in Maabatli, out of an original 1,200 before the 2018 invasion. The report indicates that these families are expected to pay approximately $55,000 in extortion fees, with additional sums demanded from businesses and establishments. In contrast, the roughly 700 Arab IDP families in the town, who were resettled after the invasion, are reportedly exempt from these extortions, as are those living in nearby camps.
