SNA arrest civilians in Syria’s Afrin
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – A Turkish-backed faction of the Syrian National Army (SNA) arrested on Wednesday seven individuals from the city of Afrin, northwest Syria. Meanwhile, Turkish border guards detained more than 30 people trying to cross the Turkish-Syrian border in the countryside of Afrin.
A source from the Turkish-backed Military Police of the SNA told North Press that the Military Police arrested seven individuals on Wednesday afternoon on various charges.
The source said that five of them were arrested on the Rajo-Afrin road, while two others were arrested in a neighborhood in the city of Afrin.
The Military Police handed over three of them, who were detained in the Military Prison in the Maarata neighborhood in Afrin, to Turkish intelligence.
Meanwhile, another source told North Press that the Turkish border guards arrested 29 Syrians and three Iraqis while they were attempting to cross into Turkish territory near the village of Nesreyieh in Jindires countryside west of Afrin.
The source indicated that the Turkish border guards have been holding the group since Nov.27, amid concerns for their lives, especially since they are being prevented from using their cellphones. Furthermore, he added that Turkish authorities do not detain Syrians at their borders for more than two days.
Afrin has been under the control of Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions since March 2018. Since then, the region has witnessed repeated human rights violations against its original inhabitants, according to reports by the United Nations. In addition, deforestation has become rampant in the reign as SNA factions have repeatedly cut down olive and pomegranate trees that once covered Afrin.