Turkish-backed Military Police arrest journalist in Aleppo
Al-Bab, Syria (North Press) – Turkish-backed Military Police arrested on Monday a journalist in the countryside of Aleppo in northwestern Syria and handed him over to Turkish intelligence.
The Military Police arrested the journalist Bakr al-Qassem in the city of al-Bab in the northern countryside of Aleppo and then handed him over to the Turkish intelligence who transferred him to Turkish territory.
The New Arab reported, citing anonymous sources within the Turkish-baked armed opposition, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), that the military police set up a temporary checkpoint at the entrance to a market in al-Bab city, where they detained al-Qasem and his wife.
The journalist, who works with Anadolu Agency and AFP, was initially taken to the Military Police branch in al-Bab. His wife, Nabeha Taha, a reporter for Aleppo Today, was released after about an hour.
Al-Qasem was later transferred to the village of Hawar Kilis, situated on the Syrian-Turkish border in northern Aleppo, at the request of Turkish intelligence.
So far, no information has been disclosed regarding the charges against him.