Ten civilians kidnapped in Afrin countryside, Turkish-backed groups demanding ransom for their release

Afrin – North-Press Agency
Mohammad Ahmad

The Turkish-backed armed opposition groups have taken kidnapping operations in the region of Afrin as a source of looting following robbing and seizure of local people’s properties, continuing their daily war-crimes and abuses against the indigenous people of the region.

Local sources confirmed to North-Press the kidnapping of 10 citizens in Afrin countryside by the Turkish-backed militia of “Sultan Suleiman Shah”, or what is locally known as (al-Amshat). The sources confirmed that the citizens are descended from the village of Anqla, in Sheikh al-Hadid district, and demanded from their relatives a ransom of $15,000 in exchange for their release.

While North-Press obtained the names of the kidnapped persons, among whom were young men under the age of 18, Ezzat Muhammad Omar, Marwan Anwar Hassan, Ibrahim Shukri Alloush, Riyad Ali, Nazmi Khalil Ahmed, Hassan Shukri Alloush, Aref Muhammad Shukri, Azad Hassan, Aref Kamal Abido, and Nihad Bakr.

Last week, two young men from the same family of the village of Anqal in Sheikh al-Hadid district were abducted by the Turkish-backed group of “Waqas Brigade”.

The sources indicated that Turkey-backed "Waqas Brigade” militia had kidnapped the two boys, Rashid Jerko and Muhammad Jerko on the pretext of serving the duty of the Self-Defense before Turkey and its affiliated armed groups controlled Afrin region. While the sources pointed out that the fate of those two young men is still unknown, amid fears for their lives.