Over 200 Kurds jailed in Afrin for ethnic, political reasons: Local official
US envoy says Kurds 'slow' in talks with Damascus
Syrians battle devastating western forest fires
Syrian firefighters face challenges as wildfires rage
UK re-establishes ties with Syria
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than 200 Kurds are currently being held in prisons across Afrin, northwestern Syria, due to their ethnicity and perceived ties to the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), a local official told Rudaw on Monday, warning of continuing rights violations in the Kurdish-majority enclave.
Ahmed Hassan, head of the local council for the Kurdish National Council (KNC/ENKS), stated, 'At least 200 Kurds are imprisoned in Afrin. Being Kurdish is the main reason, and most of the accusations relate to supposed connections with the [Democratic] Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).' He emphasized that these individuals are being detained because of 'politicization and their Kurdish identity.'
Hassan noted that although the situation in Afrin is 'gradually improving,' it has not yet returned to normal. He said the region is currently controlled by authorities and factions affiliated with the new Syrian leadership. 'Alongside the Damascus government, several armed groups also maintain control and make independent decisions,' he added.
He also noted that armed groups have seized more than 50 homes belonging to Kurds in a predominantly Shiite district near Afrin. These groups are refusing to return the properties and, in some cases, are demanding payments ranging from $1,000 to over $2,000, Hassan claimed, adding that 'the houses have been emptied, but the groups refuse to give them back to their Kurdish owners.'
Afrin, a Kurdish enclave in northwestern Syria, was taken over by Turkey and its allied Syrian armed groups in 2018. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds were displaced, with many relocating to the nearby Shahba region. Meanwhile, families displaced from other parts of Syria were resettled in Afrin.
Since the takeover, international organizations have documented numerous human rights violations against Afrin's Kurdish population, including kidnappings, killings, looting of agricultural land, destruction of olive groves, and the imposition of arbitrary taxes on farmers.
Regarding the return of Arab settlers, Hassan said the process is 'underway,' but noted that 'more than 20 percent of the settlers have yet to return' to their original hometowns. He added that while the return of displaced Kurdish residents is also ongoing, 'significant obstacles remain.'
Soran Hussein contributed to this article.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
12 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
US reviewing removal of Syria's ‘Sponsor of Terrorism' status
A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States is reviewing Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) following instructions from President Donald Trump, a State Department official told Rudaw on Thursday. 'As instructed by President Trump, the State Department is [currently] reviewing Syria's SST designation,' the official said. They added that 'several steps would need to be taken by both the Department [of State] and the President should the decision be made to remove the SST designation.' The official also highlighted the complex legal framework involved in rescinding Syria's SST status, noting that 'U.S. law establishes specific statutory criteria for rescinding an SST designation. 'Any action related to Syria's status on the SST list would be based on the law and the criteria established by Congress,' the official concluded. Syria's designation as an SST has been in effect since 1979. The status was initially based on the regime of toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's support to groups like the Iran-aligned Lebanese Hezbollah movement, as well as its permissive stance toward other organizations labeled Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the US State Department. The SST designation imposes significant sanctions, including bans on defense exports and foreign assistance. Removing Syria from the list would lift the sanctions specifically tied to this status.
Shafaq News
29 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Humanitarian aid reaches Suwayda
Shafaq News – Suwayda Humanitarian movement has resumed in southern Syria, with civilians now crossing in and out of Suwayda province through designated corridors, local sources told Shafaq News on Thursday. According to the sources, relief convoys have begun arriving at the Bosra al-Sham crossing in rural Daraa, delivering emergency aid to displacement zones in Suwayda as part of a coordinated effort led by the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management and supported by both local and international organizations. The shipments are reportedly intended to relieve overcrowded shelters and provide critical supplies to families uprooted by the latest wave of violence. In July, Suwayda saw a surge in violence as clashes between Druze factions, armed tribal groups and government forces emptied over 30 villages, many of which were looted, burned, or destroyed, leaving entire communities without homes, orchards, or usable infrastructure. Although a ceasefire was brokered in mid-July, conditions remain tense. Sporadic shelling and fresh clashes have been reported in multiple areas. The Syrian government has deployed reinforcements to contain the unrest, though no official statement has been issued.
Shafaq News
29 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Khor Abdullah: A waterway entangled in sovereignty disputes and legacy of invasion
Shafaq News – Baghdad The maritime channel of Khor Abdullah, located at the southern edge of Iraq's Basra province and separating Iraq's al-Faw Peninsula from Kuwait's Bubiyan Island, has once again returned to the forefront of political and legal controversy. Despite decades of international resolutions and bilateral agreements, the waterway remains a sensitive flashpoint involving sovereignty, economic competition, and unresolved historical grievances. A Legacy of Invasion and Forced Demarcation The roots of the current dispute trace back to August 2, 1990, when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, triggering a regional upheaval and prompting a US-led coalition military response under Operation Desert Storm. In the aftermath, Iraq faced severe international sanctions and territorial repercussions. One of the key post-war measures was United Nations Security Council Resolution 833, adopted in 1993, which formally demarcated the land and sea borders between Iraq and Kuwait—cutting through the center of Khor Abdullah. Many Iraqi legal experts and politicians have long argued that this decision was imposed under duress, at a time when Iraq could not defend its national interests. It was enforced under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for coercive measures, further fueling Iraqi perceptions of injustice. The 2012 Navigation Agreement and Its Fallout Nearly two decades later, Iraq and Kuwait signed a bilateral agreement in 2012 to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah. The deal, which outlined traffic routes, joint security mechanisms, and trade facilitation protocols, aimed to manage the shared waterway more effectively. However, the agreement quickly stirred backlash within Iraq. Critics described it as a de facto concession of sovereignty —especially concerning Iraq's maritime access and fishing rights. Although Article 6 of the agreement explicitly states that it does not modify the borders established by Resolution 833, many Iraqis argued that its practical implementation further curtailed Iraq's influence in the Gulf. The agreement was ratified by Iraq's Council of Ministers in 2012 and passed by Parliament the following year under Law No. 42 of 2013. It was subsequently published in the official Iraqi Gazette. But in September 2023, the Iraqi Parliament voted to annul the agreement altogether, reigniting tensions with Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government responded by submitting a formal protest to the UN Security Council, warning that Iraq's withdrawal "violates international agreements and undermines bilateral stability." Several Iraqi political figures defended the revocation, asserting that the agreement had been concluded under pressure during a period when Iraq's sovereignty was still compromised. International law expert Fawzi Hameed told Shafaq News, 'Resolution 833 was linked to the ceasefire, but Iraq was not in a position to advocate for its interests at the time. Agreements made under coercion can be revisited under international law.' Strategic and Economic Stakes Khor Abdullah serves as Iraq's only maritime gateway to the Gulf, making it essential for both commercial imports and oil exports. Several major Iraqi ports depend on this channel: -Umm Qasr Port – Iraq's main commercial seaport -Khor al-Zubair – A hub for oil and petrochemical exports -Grand al-Faw Port – A strategic infrastructure project under construction, intended to transform Iraq into a regional logistics center On the Kuwaiti side, heavy investment has gone into Mubarak al-Kabeer Port on Bubiyan Island. Positioned to become one of the largest ports in the region, it is widely viewed as a direct competitor to Iraqi and even Iranian maritime hubs. This overlapping infrastructure has fostered both opportunities and rivalries. While both nations seek to enhance their trade standing, their shared geography and competing ambitions have added another layer of complexity to an already politically charged environment. The channel's shared location necessitates coordinated maritime security between Iraq and Kuwait. Preventing smuggling, ensuring navigational safety, and managing traffic flows require bilateral cooperation—especially amid broader regional tensions. Any escalation involving neighboring powers, particularly Iran, could compromise shipping routes through Khor Abdullah, with direct economic implications for both Baghdad and Kuwait City. A Broader Sovereignty Debate For many in Iraq, the dispute is not just about navigation—it is a symbol of national sovereignty. Mohammad al-Basri, a researcher specializing in border affairs, argued that Khor Abdullah had historically been administered by Basra province. He warned that continuing the agreement would jeopardize Iraq's maritime and economic security. 'This is not a conflict with Kuwait,' he said. 'It is a struggle over Iraq's sovereign rights.' Former Iraqi military officer Brigadier Mahmoud al-Jubouri echoed that sentiment, stating, 'The post-1991 isolation allowed for the imposition of unbalanced agreements. Khor Abdullah is a strategic loss that should have been reviewed long ago.' Observers warn that the ongoing dispute risks stalling critical joint infrastructure projects, including the Grand al-Faw Port and broader regional connectivity plans that could transform Iraq's economic future.
