Cities in Syria’s Aleppo countryside take to streets against Turkey
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – Cities and towns , northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo, north Syria, witnessed, on Friday, broad-scale popular protests against Turkey and its supporters due to the increase in the price of electricity and the corruption of local councils in those areas.
“Hundreds of residents gathered in squares of the cities of al-Bab, Marea and al-Rai protesting against the electricity company and raised banners with phrases written against the corruption of the company and the local council in those cities,” an exclusive source told North Press.
The residents also demanded a decrease in the price of electricity in addition to improving the livelihood conditions in those areas, according to the source.
Residents of al-Bab city protested near al-Center Roundabout demanding an increase of wages and a decrease of the electricity price in light of accusations to the local council of operating in favor of the electricity company, the source added.
“The protesters shouted slogans against the Turkish state and its supporters due to the price hike of electricity and the large-scale corruption in the area,” the source noted.
Recently the electricity company has raised the price of a kilowatt by about 50%, according to the same source.
In 2018, the local council of Azaz authorized the private Turkish company, AK Energy, to provide the city of Azaz and its countryside with electricity by laying high-voltage cables through Bab al-Salama border crossing in the Sejo area, north of the city.
Since July 2012, Azaz and the surrounding villages have been controlled by the Turkish-backed armed factions, and they include security services such as the Military Police, the Civil Police, the State Security and Drug Control, some of which belong to the factions and others to the Turkish forces.