Lelun Afrin
The Afrin region in northwestern Syria has witnessed a sharp increase in property rights violations targeting indigenous residents and recently returned displaced individuals. These violations are primarily perpetrated by factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) and settlers under their protection.
Following the collapse of the previous Syrian regime and the return of many forcibly displaced individuals from neighboring countries and other parts of Syria—such as Hama, Homs, and Eastern Ghouta—human rights abuses have persisted and intensified. As some settlers have left Afrin for their original hometowns, those supported by armed factions have continued to exert pressure on the remaining residents. Many are forced to pay exorbitant sums to be allowed to stay in the area without facing harassment.
Killings and arbitrary detentions
Recently, human rights violations in Afrin have escalated, coinciding with the return of forcibly displaced individuals. These abuses include the killing of an elderly man and the forced return of families from Afrin to Aleppo due to mounting pressure. Additionally, some returnees have been arrested for their inability to pay ransom demands in exchange for staying in their homes and reclaiming their properties.
Case of Abdulhamid Mustafa:
Saad Mohammed (a pseudonym) described the circumstances surrounding the killing of his relative Abdulhamid Mustafa, saying, “There was a prior dispute between the elderly Abdulhamid Mustafa and members of the Sultan Murad Division over an excessive seasonal tax demand, which he was unable to pay due to a poor olive harvest.”
Another witness, Ismail Ali (a pseudonym), provided further details, saying that “On January 7, 2025, masked gunmen assassinated the elderly Kurdish man Abdulhamid Rashid Mustafa, known as ‘Aqil,’ as he exited the mosque in his village of Qurna, in the Bulbul district.”
He added, “Aqil’s family reported a dispute with armed elements of the Sultan Murad Division, who had imposed high levies on the olive harvest. Mustafa had been threatened with death if he failed to pay. Shortly after this dispute, masked gunmen on a motorcycle shot him multiple times as he left the mosque, killing him instantly.”
Case of Khalil Hussein Hamdi
Yusra Mohammed (a pseudonym) recounted the detention of 20-year-old Khalil Hussein Hamdi, saying “Khalil was arrested by the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (also known as al-Amshat) after the faction’s members raided his home in the village of Mirkan in Mabata (Maabatli) district. The reason of the arrest was that he failed to pay a $200 tax demanded in exchange for permission to return from Turkey and live in his own home.”
According to confidential sources, several returnees from forced displacement in Shahba region, north of Aleppo, have also been arrested due to their inability to pay ransoms demanded by the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade. Fearing arrest, many have gone into hiding.
Samia Khalil (a pseudonym) detailed one such case, saying, “Following Turkey-backed SNA’s launch of the ‘Dawn of Freedom’ military operation in Shahba region, many forcibly displaced individuals opted to return to Afrin despite the lack of guarantees for their safety. Due to dire living conditions and repeated displacement, some returnees were forced to stay in relatives’ homes in areas controlled by the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade.”
Khalil added, “In early December 2024, a young returnee to the village of Ma’mala in Rajo district was arrested by the faction while staying at his uncle’s home. He was subsequently transferred to Mar’e prison, and his family was ordered to pay $8,000 for his release. He was freed two weeks later after the ransom was paid.”
Deforestation and land seizures
Villages under the control of the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade have been subjected to systematic abuses, including arbitrary arrests and large-scale deforestation. The faction has cut down 200 olive trees belonging to local villagers who were unable to pay seasonal taxes.
Samer Youssef (a pseudonym) said, “The faction cut down 200 olive trees owned by residents of Kurzeileh village in Sherawa district. The landowners, who were unable to meet the excessive tax demands due to poor harvests, found their trees reduced to stumps overnight. There was no avenue for legal recourse, as the faction operates with impunity and routinely engages in property confiscation, arbitrary arrests, and extortion.”
The destroyed olive trees belonged to Fawzi Abdulrahman, Hassan Hannan, and Asaad Mahmoud.
Extortion and looting of property
Social media footage has surfaced showing SNA-backed settlers looting the homes of forcibly displaced indigenous residents after their departure from Afrin.
Ahmed Ibrahim (a pseudonym) reported that “Families affiliated with the 112th Brigade have looted homes in the village of Demlya in Mabata district. One of the most egregious cases involved the home of a forcibly displaced man, Badri Hamo. A family from Eastern Ghouta, residing in Hamo’s house, stole doors, windows, and electrical wiring from the walls before leaving the village.”
Salim Youssef (a pseudonym) provided a similar account saying that “Displaced families in the village of Kokan Tahtani, Mabata district, looted homes belonging to forcibly displaced Afrin residents. A family from rural Hama even stole doors, windows, and water tanks of the village’s mosque before leaving for their hometown. The controlling faction in this village is the Hamza Division.”
In Rajo district, families have reportedly been forced to pay money to the settlers occupying their homes in exchange for not having their properties stripped of doors and windows before vacating.
Samer Ahmed (a pseudonym) shared a personal experience, saying, “A relative of mine had to pay $2,500 to a settler occupying their home in the village of Meydan Ekbis, Rajo district. The payment was made to prevent the removal of doors and windows. The settler, who had been living in the house for nearly six years, agreed to leave the house intact after receiving the payment.”
Forced return and deliberate restrictions
Reports from various villages and towns in Afrin indicate that the settlers are engaged in theft before leaving the area. Witnesses have also confirmed to Lelun that certain factions imposed financial ransoms on Afrin residents returning to their area in exchange for reclaiming their homes.
According to sources and witnesses, returnees to Afrin are subjected to severe pressures. Some families, unable to reclaim their homes, were forcibly returned to Aleppo. Fatima Mustafa (a pseudonym) told Lelun that “Some families were compelled to return to their hometown of Afrin after the recent military operation in the Shahba region, where they had sought refuge in 2018 in hopes of a safe and dignified return. However, they face extreme difficulties in reclaiming their homes. Two families from Baflour village were forced to return to Aleppo as they could not afford the $2,500 fee imposed by the Eastern Army faction, which controls their village.”
Ammar Othman (a pseudonym) told a Lelun that “A family returning from Shahba to Musako village in Rajo district was forced to return to Aleppo after the Ahrar al-Sharqiya faction demanded a $2,000 payment to reclaim their home. Unable to meet this demand, they had no choice but to leave.”
Sara Ahmed (a pseudonym) reported to Lelun: “The family of Ezzat Hannan from Quddah village in Rajo district faced severe restrictions from the Hamza Division, which controls the village. After a displaced family vacated their house, the Hamza Division demanded $700 for its return. However, the house had already been looted by the settlers. Due to their dire financial situation caused by forced displacement from Shahba, the family had no option but to return to Aleppo.”
Idris Mustafa (a pseudonym) told Lelun: “Ramzi Ibrahim’s family, originally from Khirabet Sharran in Sharran district, was unable to reclaim their home after the Sultan Suleiman Shah faction demanded $1,500. Faced with displacement from Shahba and their inability to pay, the family was forced to return to Aleppo.”
Additionally, exclusive sources informed Lelun that some displaced individuals threatened returning residents who sought to reclaim their homes. These individuals, with the backing of controlling factions, refused to vacate the properties unless the returnees paid rent to local councils.
Jamila Ali (a pseudonym) narrated to a Lelun: “A relative of ours, who previously lived in the Ashrafiyah neighborhood, returned to Afrin following the recent military operations in Shahba. When they requested the displaced family residing in their home to leave, they were threatened and instructed to consult a leader of Ahrar al-Sharqiya, which controls the area. When our relative approached the leader, he was told he could only stay in his home if he paid $60 per month as rent, allegedly in coordination with the Afrin local council.”
Legal analysis
The report highlights multiple grave violations that, under international and humanitarian law, may constitute serious crimes warranting accountability. The legal analysis of the situation is as follows:
1. Violations against private property
Legal framework:
• The confiscation, theft, or deliberate destruction of civilian property is a violation of international humanitarian law, specifically Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), which prohibits pillage in all forms.
• Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the right to private property and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of one’s possessions.
Violations:
• The illegal appropriation of homes, theft of household items, and extortion through ransom payments are clear violations of these legal provisions.
• The imposition of arbitrary fees constitutes unlawful extortion, which is prohibited by law.
2. Unlawful killings and arbitrary arrests
Legal framework:
• Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits murder, torture, and cruel or inhumane treatment.
• Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to life and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life.
Violations:
• The reported killing of civilians, such as the elderly Abdulhamid Rashid Mustafa, could amount to a case of intentional homicide, potentially classified as a war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
• Arbitrary detentions and ransom demands, such as in the case of Khalil Hussein Hamdi, violate the right to personal security and freedom, protected under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
3. Forced displacement and restrictions on returnees
Legal framework:
• Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits forced population transfers, whether direct or indirect.
• International human rights law guarantees displaced persons the right to voluntary and safe return without coercion or harassment.
Violations:
• Forcing returnees to pay ransoms or rent to reclaim or reside in their own homes is a violation of their fundamental rights.
• The imposition of financial burdens and threats against returnees to prevent them from reclaiming their homes constitutes a severe violation of their right to return and live in dignity.
4. Accountability of armed groups
Legal framework:
• Non-state armed groups involved in conflicts are bound by international humanitarian law and must adhere to Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.
• Acts such as unlawful killings, extortion, and forced displacement constitute violations of international humanitarian law and may subject perpetrators to individual criminal responsibility before domestic or international courts.
5. State responsibility and international community’s role
state responsibility:
• If these armed factions operate with direct or indirect support from a particular state, that state may bear international responsibility for their unlawful actions, as stipulated in Articles 8 and 11 of the Articles on State Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful Acts.
Role of the international community:
• Given the severity of these violations, the international community should intervene through mechanisms such as reporting the situation to the UN Human Rights Council or the UN Security Council.
• The situation could also be referred to the International Criminal Court if jurisdiction is established.
This report underscores the urgent need for accountability and justice for the victims affected by these violations in Afrin.