Error occured during this request! Please try again later.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Department of the Treasury on Thursday slapped sanctions on two dominant militia groups in the Kurdish city of Afrin in northern Syria and their leaders over human rights violations committed against its residents.
The Department of the Treasury said it is designating the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, which are two pro-Turkey militia groups operating in Afrin, and their leaders for committing “serious human rights abuses against those residing in the Afrin region.”
The Sulaiman Shah Brigade is accused of subjecting civilians in Afrin to “abductions and extortion,” said the statement, adding that the group also targets Kurdish residents of the city, noting that many of them “are subjected to harassment, abduction, and other abuses until they are forced to abandon their homes or pay large ransoms for return of their property or family members.”
The Department accuses the Hamza Division of operating detention facilities “in which it houses those it has abducted for extended periods of time. During their imprisonment, victims are held for ransom, often suffering sexual abuse at the hands of Hamza Division fighters.”
Both groups are being designated for their direct or indirect involvement in “serious human rights abuses against the Syrian people.”
The Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies launched the code-named Operation Olive Branch on January 20, 2018, in Afrin, controlling city from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) on March 24. YPG is the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Local and international rights groups have repeatedly accused pro-Turkey groups of committing human rights crimes against the Kurdish residents of the city since 2018.
The Department of the Treasury said it has also sanctioned Mohammad Hussein al-Jassim (Abu Amsha), leader of the Sulaiman Shah Brigade, his brother, Walid Hussein al-Jasim, and Seyf Boulad Abu Bakr, the commander of the Hamza Division. An Istanbul-based car dealership, allegedly owned by Abu Amsha, is also being designated.
“As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of these persons and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control],” said the Department.
Updated at 8:23 pm
The Department of the Treasury said it is designating the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, which are two pro-Turkey militia groups operating in Afrin, and their leaders for committing “serious human rights abuses against those residing in the Afrin region.”
The Sulaiman Shah Brigade is accused of subjecting civilians in Afrin to “abductions and extortion,” said the statement, adding that the group also targets Kurdish residents of the city, noting that many of them “are subjected to harassment, abduction, and other abuses until they are forced to abandon their homes or pay large ransoms for return of their property or family members.”
The Department accuses the Hamza Division of operating detention facilities “in which it houses those it has abducted for extended periods of time. During their imprisonment, victims are held for ransom, often suffering sexual abuse at the hands of Hamza Division fighters.”
Both groups are being designated for their direct or indirect involvement in “serious human rights abuses against the Syrian people.”
The Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies launched the code-named Operation Olive Branch on January 20, 2018, in Afrin, controlling city from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) on March 24. YPG is the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Local and international rights groups have repeatedly accused pro-Turkey groups of committing human rights crimes against the Kurdish residents of the city since 2018.
The Department of the Treasury said it has also sanctioned Mohammad Hussein al-Jassim (Abu Amsha), leader of the Sulaiman Shah Brigade, his brother, Walid Hussein al-Jasim, and Seyf Boulad Abu Bakr, the commander of the Hamza Division. An Istanbul-based car dealership, allegedly owned by Abu Amsha, is also being designated.
“As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of these persons and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control],” said the Department.
Today, we imposed sanctions, including on two armed Syrian opposition factions and three of their leaders, in connection with serious human rights abuses. No matter the actor, we will continue to promote accountability for the human rights of all Syrians. https://t.co/DQsGhfOKEc
— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) August 17, 2023
Updated at 8:23 pm
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment