Revenge seekers draw strength from Turkish-backed SNA in Syria’s Aleppo countryside
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – Revenge seekers in the northern countryside of Aleppo, north Syria, draw their strength and support from leaders of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) amidst the proliferation of arms and the absence of a law that subjects perpetrators and those cover up of the crimes to a civil justice that restores rights.
On May 8, the village of Shamarin in the countryside of Azaz witnessed a crime and tribal infighting after a militant of the Turkish-backed civil police faction, who is a member of al-Ojail clan, killed a young man from al-Mowali clan.
Shelter by power
“As a result of old tribal and family disputes, the police man, Muhammad Kordilo, directly shot the young man and ran away raising fears among residents,” Ahmad al-Sheikh, a pseudonym for a resident of Shamarin said.
On October 12, unidentified attackers fired at the chief of a village in Akhtarin countryside and two other people with him killing them immediately.
Meanwhile the attackers ran away and hid in the headquarters of Special Forces Division.
Absent law
Revenge, which is one of the most dangerous and worst social phenomena, spread in tribal areas in the countryside of Aleppo leading to bloodshed and renewal of hostility between families and clans.
Seeking revenge is a real danger on society in light of a despicable clan strife that lasts for years leading to the loss of innocent lives, according to activists.
Despite the spread of this phenomena, there are no accurate statistics or sources documenting such incidents.
“Seeking revenge is an old practice in the tribal society; However, it has become a norm and a binding with the passage of time and the repetition,” Walid Hussein, a pseudonym for human right activist of Azaz city, said.
The proliferation of weapons, the spread of chaos and lack of security power in addition to the absence of law rule in restoring rights increased these incidents, according to Hussein.
“The absence of the law rule spawns a feeling that the avenger should restore his right himself as a result of losing trust in applying justice.”
This is happening in light of the negligence on this issue by the security authorities and tribal notables’ disability to control it and prevent it, according to the activist.
This phenomena has several social, tribal, legal aspects “since the convulsed person finds himself and his family obliged to take revenge, influenced by the motives of revenge and the outdated social customs that condemn silence over revenge,” Hussein noted.
“It is necessary to raise awareness and change the mentality associated with revenge among individuals, as well as implementing deterrent penalties by the current authorities to curb these heinous crimes,” he added.