Turkey, opposition arbitrary arrest civilians in north Syria’s Tel Abyad
TEL ABYAD, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, Turkish forces and the affiliated armed opposition factions arrested four people from the same family, including a baby, in the western countryside of Tel Abyad, north Syria, on charges of cooperating with the Autonomous Administration.
Members of the Turkish forces and militants of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) raided all the houses of the village of Hawija, 10 km south of the city of Tel Abyad, and arrested four people from one family, including a baby, a civilian source in the village said.
The militants were looking for Kafa’ al-Arif on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. Her family, however, refused the arrest of their daughter so the militants arrested the whole family, including her daughter, her husband and her-father-in law, the source added.
The source was told that “the arrested were taken to a branch of the National Army in the center of Tel Abyad.”
A source close to the family told North Press that the aim of arresting family members was to demand ransom later.
Since 2019, the Turkish forces and Turkish-backed opposition factions have controlled the city of Tel Abyad and parts of its countryside. These areas have been witnessing widespread violations and attempts to Turkification, according to local and international reports.