afrinpost-exclusive
The notorious “Barkhaz,” a leader of the Sultan Murad Division and the de facto authority over the Telal Street area in central Afrin, which is known for its clothing market, has imposed a new extortion fee on local vendors. This fee, levied on approximately 60 shops and stalls, is purportedly to fund the installation of surveillance cameras, with the total amounting to around $1,000 USD.
According to our correspondent, this is not the first time such an excuse has been used for extortion. A year ago, the previous local enforcer, “Abdo Khayro,” similarly installed cameras at the expense of the vendors, only to dismantle and steal them shortly afterward. This recurring demand for camera installation has thus become a pretext for continued exploitation and financial extortion.
