Turkish-backed factions impose royalties on residents in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, the Turkish-backed armed faction Jabhat al-Shamiya (Levant Front) imposed a royalty of 100 Turkish lira (11.79 US dollars) on each farmer in the village of Terendi in Afrin, north Syria, in order to be allowed to cultivate near the irrigation channel that passes through their land.
In the event farmers refuse to pay, the militants prevent them from cultivating their lands, a local source told North Press.
Additionally, they imposed a royalty of $2,000 in order to be allowed to open a musical instrument workshop.
A local source told North Press that the militants of Jabhat al-Shamiya demanded Muhammad Najar, a resident of al-Mahmudiya neighborhood, pay the royalty or have his shop closed.
Days ago, a Turkish-backed armed faction in Afrin, northwest Syria, imposed large sums of money on Afrin IDPs in turn for their return to their homes in Afrin.
In a meeting held by al-Amshat faction in the Shiyeh District west of Afrin, residents were told to ask their IDP relatives to pay $2,000 in exchange for their return to their houses.
On July 28, the US Department of Treasury sanctioned thr Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sharqiya faction, represented by Ahmad Ihsan Fayyad al-Hayes, known as Abu Hatim al-Shakra, who is accused of committing war crimes against Kurdish civilians and assassinating Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf in 2019.