Afrin: 26 Arrests in April 2021

Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) documented a decrease in the number of arrests in Syria’s Kurdish-majority region of Afrin in April 2021—on the 13th of which Ramadan started this year— compared to previous months. STJ documented that the Military Police, operated by the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), arrested at least 26 persons. On the day of reporting, 3 May 2021, the perpetrators had released 14 detainees, while the fate of the remaining 12 remained unknown.

STJ relies on its network of researchers, civil sources, eyewitnesses, and sources from within the SNA to document arrests and releases across Afrin, aggregating evidence and information into a designated database.

Arrests in Afrin

In Afrin district, the Military Police arrested eight individuals. Seven of the arrested persons were subsequently released while one remains unaccounted for.

1. Hassan Aref Sheikho, 35, was arrested on 4 April from the village of Erşqîbar (Arsh Qaybar) by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
2. Amir Mustafa Janji, 27, was arrested on 5 April from the town of Maratah by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
3. Adel Hassan was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
4. Nihad Hamid Kalaho was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
5. Sadiq Othman was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
6. Hazim Hamid Kalaho was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
7. Imad Hamid Kalaho was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
8. Muhammad Kamal Ahmad Sido was arrested in April from the village of Burj Abdalo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.

Arrests in Rajo District

In Rajo district, the Military Police arrested six persons. Two of those arrested were subsequently released, but the fate of the remaining four remains unknown.

1. Abdin Shaikhmous Mousa, 52, was arrested on 1 April from the village of Baadina by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
2. Hussain Abu Muhammad Omar, 35, was arrested on 4 April from the village of Rajo by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
3. Awni Rashid Othman was arrested in April from the village of Haj Khalil by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
4. Zakaray Ibrahim Omar was arrested in April from the village of Duda by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
5. Muhammad Rashid Othman, 61, was arrested in April from the village of Baadina by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
6. Muhammad Rashid Manan, 60, was arrested in April from the village of Baadina by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.

Arrests in Shaykh Al-Hadid District

In Shaykh al-Hadid district, the Military Police arrested seven individuals. Two of those arrested were subsequently released, while the fate of five others remains unknown.

1. Battal Fathi Battal, 42, was arrested on 8 April from the village of Bassouta by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
2. Hussain Omar A’broush, 22, was arrested on 8 April from the village of Bassouta by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
3. Shairo Muhammad Khalil, 23, was arrested on 8 April from the village of Bassouta by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
4. Khalil Muhammad Ali, 21, was arrested on 8 April from the village of Bassouta by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
5. Maher Khalid Osso, 20, was arrested on 9 April from the village of al-Ziyarah by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
6. Mustafa Abass al-Ahmad, 22, was arrested on 9 April from the village of al-Ziyarah by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
7. Khalil Muhammad Omar, 29, was arrested in April from the village of Bassouta by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.

Arrests in Jindires District

In Jindires District, the Military Police arrested three persons. They were all subsequently released.

1. Abdin Hassan Ibrahim was arrested in April from the village of Ĥêkiçê (Haikajeh) by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
2. Khalil Said Arab was arrested in April from the village of Ĥêkiçê (Haikajeh) by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.
3. Farhan Hassan Ibrahim was arrested in April from the village of Ĥêkiçê (Haikajeh) by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. He was subsequently released.

Arrests in Bulbul and Sharran Districts

The Military Police arrested one person in each of the two districts. They are both still being held in detention.

1. Muhammad Mesto Kakaj, 50, was arrested on 4 April from the village of Abla in Bulbul district by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.
2. Muhammad Ali Alo was arrested in April from the village of Maydanki in Sharran district by members of the Military Police on charges of dealing with the Autonomous Administration. His fate remains unknown.