By Siwar Hamo
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – The Kurdish-majority city of Afrin in Northwest Syria is facing frequent extortion imposed by the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), primarily Sultan Suleiman Shah, aka al-Amshat Division, led by Abu Amsha.
These extortions have become one of the most prominent features of the harvest seasons in the region, exacerbating the suffering of local residents.
Villagers in the districts of Mabata and Sheikh Hadid (Shiye), northwestern Afrin, spoke about random taxes imposed even on those without agricultural land.
According to the testimony of a villager named K. Sh., every farmer is required to pay $3.50 for each olive tree, whether owned or inherited.
The extortion does not stop there; farmers are forced to use specific oil presses, where between 5 percent to 10 percent of the oil production is deducted for the faction, and affiliated members are appointed to oversee these operations.
During the sumac season, the extortion is just as severe, with every owner of sumac trees required to pay $50 per season, in addition to 500 Turkish lira for each walnut tree. These practices even include fees for the pruning of olive trees.
An exclusive source from Afrin said that the faction has imposed an additional tax on each 16-kilogram container of olive oil, deducting 2.5 kilograms directly at the press for the faction’s benefit. Additionally, a seasonal tax of $5,000 is imposed on each oil press.
In a new escalation, a fee of $100 has been imposed on every home in areas under the faction’s control, collected through local leaders and handed over to the faction’s security offices.
The suffering of residents returning to their villages from other areas, such as Aleppo and northern countryside of Aleppo, aka the Shahba Region, is compounded by demands to pay amounts ranging from $2,000 to $2,500 for permission to enter, along with extortions to recover their seized properties.
In these harsh conditions, residents of the Mabata and Afrin areas feel powerless to file complaints or refuse to pay the extortions, fearing punishment or retaliation. With the absence of independent judicial authorities, these practices remain part of the daily reality for the region’s inhabitants.
Since March 2018, the Kurdish-majority region of Afrin has been occupied by Turkey and controlled by factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) following Turkey’s “Olive Branch” military operation, which aimed to drive out the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the stated justification of safeguarding “Turkish national security.”