Turkish-backed Syrian militants send messages of mockery to the displaced people from areas of the Turkish invasion in northeastern Syria

Refugee camp – North-Press

Duhok – North-Press

Syrian Refugees from the areas of the Turkish military invasion in northern Syria, residing in camps in Kurdistan Region, complain about the practices of the Turkish-backed armed opposition groups in the city of Sere-Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), as the refugees told North-Press that they are receiving mockery messages from the Turkish-backed militants via WhatsApp.

Salem Zahir, a refugee from Ras al-Ain said: "We left one of our phones at home, and now a Turkish-backed militant is using my my phone and sending me mockery messages!” North-Press quoted a message saying: "Don't go back to your house and spoil the pleasure of my food.” He added: "The gunman who took my house is taking photos for himself in my house yard, dressed in my clothes!”

According to refugees' statements, the armed opposition group looted the houses of Ras al-Ain and stole the electrical tools, to sell them in the market of the village of Tal-Halaf, which is adjacent to the city.

Birin Muhammad, another refugee from Ras al-Ain told North-Press: “We left everything behind, when my father went back to check the house, he did not find our electrical tools, and one of the gunmen told him via a message on WhatsApp that our house tools are being sold in the market of Tal-Halaf, so my father went there, and he saw our refrigerator, the automatic washing machine, and some of our other tools so he bought them again.”

Human Rights Watch confirmed in its report issued on November 27, 2019 that Turkey and its affiliated armed groups illegally occupied civilians’ houses and shops and looted their properties."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also published on October 21, 2019 testimonies from sources familiar with the situation of the civilians in the city of Ras al-Ain, confirmed that looting and plundering operations are ongoing such televisions, stuff and furniture all are stolen and sold in the market of Tal-Halaf.