Afrin Activists Network, one of the local sources reporting from Afrin, has released a report of war crimes in Afrin that were committed by Turkish forces and allied factions between 7-19 June this year, ANHA reports.
On 20 January 2018, Turkey launched an air and ground campaign dubbed “Olive Branch” in Afrin in Syria, and after 59 days of clashes between People’s Defence Units (YPG) and Women’s Defence Units (YPJ) led by Syrian Kurds, Turkey took control of the city on 18 March 2018. Since then, there have been several reports regarding Turkey’s ‘war crimes’ and ‘violations of rights’ of people in Afrin, including abductions, rapes, torture and murder.
According to the latest report by the Afrin Activists Network, eight people, including two children and three women, were killed between 7-19 June. The Network also recorded incidents involving 22 people, including two children, who were kidnapped and sent to prisons in Turkey between the same dates. It was stated that four people who were kidnapped were also subjected to torture.
In its report, Afrin Activists Network noted that Turkey has been continuously trying to alter the demographic structure in Afrin by settling mercenaries there. The report states that 600 households were built in Çeqela village of Şiyê and people who were transported from outside Afrin were settled there.
Three people were reportedly kidnapped by Turkish paramilitaries in the villages of Axcel and Çeqla Cûmê in Afrin’s Jindires (Cindirês) district – Hemdan Hisên, Mistefa Hemdan and Sibhi Cemil.
According to ANHA, these people were kidnapped by Turkish intelligence and have been accused of having relations with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). While it was reported that the abducted people were tortured, the fate of the abducted people and where they were taken is still unknown.