Syria
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels gesturing in triumph as they drive down a road north of Afrin on March 8, 2018. Photo: Nazeer al-Khatib/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Syrian opposition on Friday denounced fresh sanctions imposed by the United States on two of their militia groups over human rights violations, calling on Washington to reconsider the decision and cooperate.
The US Department of the Treasury on Thursday said it is designating the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, two pro-Turkey militia groups operating in Afrin in northern Syria, alongside their leaders for committing “serious human rights abuses against the residents in the Afrin region.”
“It is evident that this decision is a result of deliberate defamation campaigns against the formations affiliated with the Syrian National Army and its leaders, based on reports issued by non-neutral organizations regarding baseless claims,” the Syrian Interim Government’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement, calling Washington’s decision “far from justice and objectivity.”
Labeling the sanctions as “unacceptable,” the ministry said that they undermine the work of their prosecutor’s office and claimed that they have always remained committed to their priority of “upholding human rights within all formations of the Syrian National Army,” undertaking fair judicial trials to hold violators accountable.
“In this context, the Ministry of Defense in the Syrian Interim Government urges the US Department of the Treasury to reconsider this decision and to collaborate with it regarding the allegations mentioned in this decision,” the ministry said.
According to Washington, the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and Hamza Division are responsible for numerous violations such as extortion, abductions, harassment, property theft, ransom, and sexual abuse.
In 2018, Turkey and its Syrian proxies launched Operation Olive Branch with the aim of capturing Afrin from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish-led force which serves as the backbone for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Local and international rights groups have repeatedly accused pro-Turkey groups of committing human rights abuses against the Kurdish residents of the city since its fall in 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.
On Friday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria - the governing Kurdish authority in Rojava - welcomed Washington’s sanctions against the militia groups and called for an international investigation into alleged crimes committed by the militias in Afrin.
The US Department of the Treasury on Thursday said it is designating the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, two pro-Turkey militia groups operating in Afrin in northern Syria, alongside their leaders for committing “serious human rights abuses against the residents in the Afrin region.”
“It is evident that this decision is a result of deliberate defamation campaigns against the formations affiliated with the Syrian National Army and its leaders, based on reports issued by non-neutral organizations regarding baseless claims,” the Syrian Interim Government’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement, calling Washington’s decision “far from justice and objectivity.”
Labeling the sanctions as “unacceptable,” the ministry said that they undermine the work of their prosecutor’s office and claimed that they have always remained committed to their priority of “upholding human rights within all formations of the Syrian National Army,” undertaking fair judicial trials to hold violators accountable.
“In this context, the Ministry of Defense in the Syrian Interim Government urges the US Department of the Treasury to reconsider this decision and to collaborate with it regarding the allegations mentioned in this decision,” the ministry said.
According to Washington, the Sulaiman Shah Brigade and Hamza Division are responsible for numerous violations such as extortion, abductions, harassment, property theft, ransom, and sexual abuse.
In 2018, Turkey and its Syrian proxies launched Operation Olive Branch with the aim of capturing Afrin from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish-led force which serves as the backbone for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Local and international rights groups have repeatedly accused pro-Turkey groups of committing human rights abuses against the Kurdish residents of the city since its fall in 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.
On Friday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria - the governing Kurdish authority in Rojava - welcomed Washington’s sanctions against the militia groups and called for an international investigation into alleged crimes committed by the militias in Afrin.
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