HTS imposes ISIS costumes on Syria’s Afrin residents
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Residents in the city of Afrin said on Monday that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) imposes Islamic State Organization (ISIS) costumes on them.
On October 13, HTS took full control of the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo, following the withdrawal of the Turkish-backed Third Legion faction, affiliated with Syrian National Army (SNA), from the city toward Azaz city.
A resident in Afrin, who has hidden his identity, said that the city is witnessing strange phenomena like ISIS costumes in its controlled areas in Syria and Iraq.
He told North Press, “ISIS costumes can be seen in the city, there is great fear where men started hiding their cigarettes and adhering to loose clothes.”
Another resident of Afrin said, “There is fear of the next, we are waiting what will happen.”
He mentioned that unfortunately, the olive season began with the eruption of fighting where residents are afraid of going out and picking olives which are considered a basic source of livelihood.
“The residents are afraid of imposing tougher laws and grave harassment,” the resident added.
Ibrahim Sheikho, spokesperson for Human Rights Organization-Afrin, confirmed that HTS issued a generalization wearing legitimate dress in departments and hospitals.
Sheikho said in an audio recording to North Press that after taking over Jindires district, the HTS asked the women not go out alone unless for the necessary cases.
Sheikho pointed out that although the HTS withdrew from some areas, General Security Services manage those areas.
Since October 13, Afrin has been under an uneasy calm following an agreement between the HTS and Third Legion.
Afrin, a Kurdish city in the north of Aleppo, has been under the occupation of Turkey since March 2018 following a military operation called “Olive Branch” which resulted in the displacement of about 300.000 people of the original inhabitants of the city and its countryside who have been taking shelter in 40 villages and five camps in Shahba region (Aleppo northern countryside) since then.
There are about 16.000 displaced families from Afrin distributed over 42 villages and towns in Shahba region, in addition to 1.870 families, comprising 7.500 individuals, now living in the camps of Barkhodan, Sardam, Afrin, al-Awda, and Shahba, according to the Social Affairs and Labor Board of the Afrin region, currently operating in Aleppo northern countryside.
The area has been militarily protected by Russian and Syrian government forces since 2018.
The city and its countryside witnessed fighting between the HTS along with Sultan Suleiman Shah (al-Amshat) faction and al-Hamza Division on one hand, and Levant Front along with Third Legion and Ahrar al-Sham faction on the other.
The fighting ended with the control of the HTS over Afrin and its countryside.