Five out of seven areas in Syria’s Kurdish-majority district of Afrin witnessed arrests conducted by the Military Police of the Turkey-supported Syrian National Army (SNA). 46 people were arrested, ten were released, one died inside, and 35 others are still unaccounted for at the date of this report: 8 April 2021.
STJ has monitored arrests and releases in Afrin in the first three months of 2021. We documented the arrest of at least 190 people in that time, and the release of 130 of them. The fate of the remaining 60; however, is still unknown as of late March 2021. These statistics do not include the detentions which were carried out in areas beyond STJ’s reach.
STJ relies on its network of researchers in Afrin to document the arrests and the releases in the district, as well as on civil sources, eyewitnesses, and sources from within the opposition’ SNA.
Arrests in Afrin
Afrin district witnessed the arrest of 13 people throughout March 2021 by the Military Police. Two of those arrested were released while 11 of them are still unaccounted for.
- Munther al-Hajjiwas arrested on 8 March by members of the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
- Fawzi Ebish was arrested on 8 March by members of the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
- Juan Sido was arrested on 10 March from the village of Tarandat/Turindê by members of the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
- Khalil Mohammad was arrested on 14 March from the village of Jaqalla by the Military Police and was later released.
- Ameen Sha’bou was arrested on 14 March from the village of Alkana by the Military Police and was later released.
- Mustafa Kamal Eid was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Kamal Wahhab Said was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Mohammad Qasim was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Basil Antar Moussa was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Ismail Aliwi was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Juan Othman Qurra was arrested on 15 March from the village of Juwayqby the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate is still unknown.
- Ahmed Jamal Barakat was arrested on 16 March from the village of Jamaleh by the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
- Basil Baker Kil Khalou was arrested on 16 March from the village of Jamaleh by the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
Arrests in Rajo district
The district of Rajo witnessed the arrest of four people during March 2021 by the Military Police. A detainee, Sheikh Mous Mistah Maryama, died while incarcerated, one was released, and the fate of two others remains unknown.
- Sheikh Mous Mistah Maryama, 65, was arrested on 4 March from the town of Meidan Ekbis by the Military Police and died in custody. STJ could not obtain details on the circumstances of his death.
- Said Omar Mirjan, 69, was arrested on 4 March from the town of Meidan Ekbis by the Military Police and was released later.
- Said Omar Sheiro was arrested on 6 March from the village of Midana by the Military Police and his fate is still unknown.
- Hussein Hanan Rasheed, 59, was arrested on 26 March from the village of Haj Khalil by the Military Police. His fate is still unknown.
Arrests in Shaykh Al-Hadid District
The district of Shaykh Al-Hadid witnessed the arrest of ten people in March 2021 by the Military Police. Six of the detainees were released while the fate of the four others is still unknown.
- Ahmed Kalah Khairi, 23, was arrested on 3 March from the village of Burj Haydar by the Military Police and his fate remains unknown.
- Firas Omar, 40, was arrested on 10 March from the village of al-Ghazzawiyya/Xezîwê by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mohammad Saleh Abdullah, 37, was arrested on 14 March from the village of Iska by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Jouma’a Saleh, 20, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mohammad Naser, 60, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police and was later released.
- Taeseer Saleh Jammou, 25, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police and was later released.
- Mohammad Naser Sheikho, 70, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police and was later released.
- Sabri Haidar, 62, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police and was later released.
- Darweesh Arabou was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police and was later released.
- Haidar Barakat, 23, was arrested on 21 March from the village of Bosoufane by the Military Police for a felony. His fate remains unknown.
Arrests in Bulbul district
Th district of Bulbul witnessed the arrest of nine people by the Military Police during March 2021. Only one of those arrested was released while the fate of the eight others remains unknown.
- Mohammad Khalil Haj Sheikho was arrested on 4 March from the village of Sahra by the Military Police and was later released.
- Mahmoud Moussa Ali, 40, was arrested on 4 March from the village of Sahra by the Military Police.His fate remains unknown.
- Luqman Mohammad Ali, 37, was arrested on 5 March from the village of Sahra by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Hamza Mohammad Ali, 32, was arrested on 5 March from the village of Sahra by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mahmoud Hamza Jouma’a was arrested on 5 March from the village of Sahra by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mohammad Khalil Othman was arrested on 9 March from the village of Karyh by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mohammad Sido Kalo was arrested on 9 March from the village of Ashona by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Mustafa Mohammad Maho, 42, was arrested on 12 March from the village of Bekeh by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Asad Ahmed Hanan was arrested on 23 March from the village of Kool by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
Arrests in Maabatli/Mabeta district
The district of Maabatli witnessed the arrest of ten people by the Military Police in March 2021. The fate of all those arrested remains unknown.
- Mohammad Rammo was arrested on 1 March from the village of Kokaniah by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Ameen Zaki Mannan, 52, was arrested on 2 March from the village of Kamrouk by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Jameel Mohammad Ibrahim, 48, was arrested on 2 March from the village of Kamrouk by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Jameel Mustafa Madania, 70, was arrested on 8 March from the town of Maabatli by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Adnan Shashe, 73, was arrested on 8 March from the town of Maabatli by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Ali Youssef Mustafa, 67, was arrested on 8 March from the town of Maabatli by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Asa’ad Youssef Mustafa, 64, was arrested on 8 March from the town of Maabatli by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Ahmed Izzat, 50, was arrested on 8 March from the village of Ayn al Hajar al-Gharbi by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.
- Amer Hisse was arrested on 9 March from the village of Mīrkān by the Military Police .His fate remains unknown.
- Kebar Mohammad Hasan was arrested on 16 March from the village of Shiteka by the Military Police. His fate remains unknown.