Pro-Turkish faction blackmails family in Syria’s Sere Kaniye for son’s release
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, a source from the western countryside of Sere Kaniye, in Turkish-occupied Syria, said that the family of a man being detained by a Turkish-backed faction is being blackmailed by the factions, who are requesting a ransom of millions of Syrian pounds.
Members of the Badr Martyrs’ Brigade, who control the western countryside of Sere Kaniye, are asking for tenmillion Syrian pounds in exchange for the release of the detainee Mahmud Shuwakh al-Salloum, the source added.
On Sunday, members of the brigade abducted al-Salloum from his village, al-Aziziyah, in the western countryside of Sere Kaniye.
“The abduction of the youth came without any charge, and the brigade refuses to release him unless the ransom is paid,” the source added.
Late in 2019, Turkey and Turkish-backed armed groups took over the regions of Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad after an attack that caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of citizens.
The security chaos continues in Sere Kaniye and its countryside amid the armed groups’ struggle to extend their influence and extort money from the residents in light of the deteriorating living and service conditions, according to the residents.
The leaders of Badr Martyrs Brigade of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), Abu al-Qa’qa’, Abu al-Farouq and Abu Muhammad al-Raqqawi are imposing royalties on residents through seizing their properties, a resident of the village said.
“Former residents’ complaints regarding confiscation at checkpoints and the framing of charges with the aim of the ransom were futile,” he added.
The kidnapping of al-Salloum – who sources said was a civilian – and the extortion of his family came days after clashes erupted between the Badr Martyrs and al-Mawali Brigades in the Sere Kaniye countryside, which resulted in causalities, including civilians.