The Syrian Kurdish National Council (ENKS), a Syrian Kurdish political party founded in Erbil (Hewlêr) in 2011 under the sponsorship of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, united with Turkish-backed mercenary factions in Afrin (Efrîn) on Saturday to voice their dissent against the recent United States sanctions.
Targeting primarily the Hamza Division and Suleiman Shah Brigade and their leaders, the US Treasury Department have imposed sanctions in response to severe human rights abuses against the local Kurdish population in the Afrin region under control of Turkey and its allies since 2018.
Syrian mercenaries protested the US designations on Saturday, calling on Washington to “reconsider the decision”. During their protest, members of the ENKS made a speech in defence of the sanctioned groups who they called “our Arab brothers” and stated that they do not accept the US designation.
“Today, we have come together with Arabs in our call for brotherhood and we will rule Afrin,” pro-Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) ENKS members said, claiming that Kurds live well in the region despite all reports indicating the opposite. “We reject the sanctions because they want to control the region with this decision,” they added.
A banner carried by the ENKS read: “We reject the usage of the Kurdish existence in the resolution of inter-state political issues that serve the agenda of divisive militias not representing Syrian Kurds.”
Many Kurdish social media users reacted to the speeches of ENKS members, accusing them of “betrayal” and “defending the Islamic State (ISIS)”.
Meanwhile, Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria official Bedran Çiya Kurd expressed that while the sanctions are a move towards justice, they do not comprehensively alleviate the challenges experienced by the residents of Afrin. According to Kurd, the humanitarian condition in the region remains critical and requires further focus.
Sanctioned factions
The Suleiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, both sanctioned by US, wield significant influence over Afrin’s Kurdish population.
The Suleiman Shah Brigade is accused of civilian abduction and extortion, while the Hamza Division faces allegations of abduction, theft, and torture, operating detention centres with reports of prolonged captivity, ransom demands, and sexual abuse.
These groups are affiliated with the Syrian National Army (SNA), an Islamist coalition supported by Turkey, with documented violations against local ethnic and religious groups by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria and the US State Department.
Seizure of Afrin by Turkey and backed groups
During the initial years of the Syrian civil war, Kurdish city Afrin maintained a relatively tranquil status as it was governed by Kurdish forces. However, following Turkey’s assumption of control in 2018, the area has witnessed a shift in power dynamics, with various factions aligned with Turkish forces taking charge.
These armed groups reportedly employ forceful strategies to establish authority over residents. Since 2018, both local and international human rights organisations have consistently levelled allegations of severe violations against Turkish-backed factions for their actions towards the Kurdish populace in the region.
The seizure of Afrin by Turkey resulted in the displacement of around 300,000 native Kurds from their historic territories.
