{"id":2678,"date":"2025-04-04T14:35:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T13:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/?p=2678"},"modified":"2025-04-04T14:35:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T13:35:16","slug":"escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria’s Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Systematic human rights violations against the indigenous population of Afrin, located in northwest<\/span><\/span>ern Syria<\/span><\/span>, continue to intensify. These abuses coincide with significant political developments in Syria, including the declared “fall of the previous regime,” the release of detainees from government prisons, and the restructuring of military factions, with <\/span><\/span>members<\/span><\/span> of the “Syrian National Army” being incorporated into the newly formed “New Syrian Army” under the interim government in Damascus. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The region is experiencing a surge in kidnappings, assaults, arbitrary detentions, and theft, exacerbated by the failure of local security forces to uphold accountability. This report, compiled by <\/span><\/span>L<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> team<\/span><\/span>, documents multiple cases of human rights violations resulting from the deteriorating security situation. It is based on firsthand testimonies from victims, witnesses, and reliable sources, highlighting the severe impact of these violations on civilians\u2014particularly women, children, and the elderly.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Security Chaos and Media Misinformation<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On February 9, 2025, <\/span><\/span>Khayriya<\/span><\/span> Mousa<\/span><\/span>, a 43-year-old <\/span><\/span>woman <\/span><\/span>of <\/span><\/span>Baadina<\/span><\/span>village in the <\/span><\/span>Maabatli<\/span><\/span> district, was abducted by an unidentified masked group while on her way to the city center market. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In the aftermath of her disappearance, certain local media outlets denied reports of her abduction, instead falsely claiming that <\/span><\/span>Khayriya<\/span><\/span> had voluntarily traveled to <\/span><\/span>Damascus to obtain a passport and reunite with her family in Turkey. These outlets further alleged that her departure was prompted by a domestic dispute with her husband and children.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ten days later, on February 19, <\/span><\/span>Khayri<\/span><\/span>ya<\/span><\/span> managed to contact her husband<\/span><\/span>, confirming that she had indeed been kidnapped. She reported that her captors had stolen all her money and gold before abandoning her on a roadside near <\/span><\/span>Sarmada<\/span><\/span>, in <\/span><\/span>Idlib<\/span><\/span> province<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A relative of the victim, <\/span><\/span>Samia<\/span><\/span> Hassan (a pseudonym), recounted the incident to a <\/span><\/span>L<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>un<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span> “On the afternoon of February 9, <\/span><\/span>Khayriya<\/span><\/span> left for Afrin\u2019s city center to purchase gold jewelry. She was carrying additional money beyond the amount needed for the jewelry. When she failed to return home, her family made desperate attempts to reach her. Meanwhile, misleading information began circulating, claiming that she had willingly traveled to Damascus due to family conflicts and was preparing to relocate to Turkey.”<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Samia<\/span><\/span> continued:<\/span><\/span> “After ten days, <\/span><\/span>Khayriya\u2019s<\/span><\/span> children received a call from her. She was in <\/span><\/span>Sarmada<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Idlib<\/span><\/span>, and had been robbed of all her belongings, including her gold and the money she had with her at the time of the abduction.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Samia<\/span><\/span> also revealed that <\/span><\/span>Khayriya<\/span><\/span> had been preparing for her daughter\u2019s wedding, which was scheduled just two days after the incident.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In another alarming incident, a group of 17 local workers fell victim to an armed robbery while returning home to their village, <\/span><\/span>Maam<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span> Ushaghi<\/span><\/span>, in the <\/span><\/span>Rajo<\/span><\/span> district.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

According to exclu<\/span><\/span>sive sources interviewed by a <\/span><\/span>Le<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> team<\/span><\/span>, the robbery took place on the evening of February 27, 2025. A four-member masked group ambushed the workers as they made their way back from their jobs at sewing workshops in Afrin\u2019s city center, where they had just received their weekly wages. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As the workers approached a makeshift checkpoint between the villages of <\/span><\/span>Korkan<\/span><\/span> Tahtani<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>Maam<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>Ushaghi<\/span><\/span>, they were stopped at gunpoint. The armed assailants forcibly seized their money and mobile phones before fleeing the scene. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Repercussions of Arbitrary Detention<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In another tragic incident involving the family of a detainee, six-year-old J<\/span><\/span>ay<\/span><\/span>lan Adnan <\/span><\/span>Is<\/span><\/span>so<\/span><\/span> went missing for three days after leaving her home while unattended. Her mother had briefly stepped out to gather firewood\u2014a necessity driven by the family’s dire economic circumstances,<\/span><\/span>exacerbated by the arrest of Jay<\/span><\/span>lan\u2019s father six months earlier. He had been detained by the <\/span><\/span>M<\/span><\/span>ilitary <\/span><\/span>P<\/span><\/span>olice on charges of alleged cooperation with the previous local <\/span><\/span>Kurdish <\/span><\/span>administration. \u00a0<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A video circulated on social media featured an interview with the child\u2019s mother, <\/span><\/span>Zainab<\/span><\/span> Sheikh <\/span><\/span>Sadiq<\/span><\/span>, a resident of <\/span><\/span>Maarata<\/span><\/span> village in Afrin. In the footage, she explained that she had left the house to collect firewood for heating, as financial hardship had left the family unable to afford basic necessities. This, she said, ultimately led to her daughter’s temporary disappearance. She attributed their suffering to her husband’s arbitrary detention and called for his release, <\/span><\/span>stressing that his absence had profoundly impacted their financial and emotional stability.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Escalation of Attacks and a Pregnant Woman’s Miscarriage<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recent months have seen a sharp rise in human rights violations by armed groups, including retaliatory arrests, physical assaults, and theft. Among these incidents, a particularly harrowing case involved a pregnant woman who suffered a miscarriage due to violent abuse. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

On January 20, 2025, an armed group stormed the ho<\/span><\/span>us<\/span><\/span>e of a resident in Khirbet <\/span><\/span>Suluk<\/span><\/span>, a village in the <\/span><\/span>Rajo<\/span><\/span>district, under the pretext of searching for weapons.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Social media and activist platforms later shared a video <\/span><\/span>footage <\/span><\/span>recorded by the victim, <\/span><\/span>Nazmi<\/span><\/span> Mohammed <\/span><\/span>Ka<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>rk<\/span><\/span>, in which he recounted the details of the attack. He described how the assailants beat him with the butt <\/span><\/span>of a rifle and ransacked his hous<\/span><\/span>e, causing extensive damage. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He further revealed that his wife, who was five months pregnant, endured severe physical assault at the hands of the intruders. As a result of the brutal attack, she suffered a miscarriage. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In a similar incident on February 12, 2025, an elderly man was subjected to violence and robbery in his home. Mohammed <\/span><\/span>Hanif<\/span><\/span> Ahmed <\/span><\/span>Abdo<\/span><\/span>, a 64-year-old resident of Ain Dara, near Afrin\u2019s city center, was attacked by an armed group in the middle of the night.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Sal<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>h Ahmed (a pseudonym), a relative of the victim, shared details of the assault with <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>L<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> team<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>At around 1:00 AM, two armed men broke into <\/span><\/span>Hanif<\/span><\/span> Abdo\u2019s<\/span><\/span> ho<\/span><\/span>us<\/span><\/span>e in Ain Dara. They viciously beat both him and his wife, leaving them with facial and hand injuries. The assailants then tied the couple up, stole approximately $300 and 2,000 Turkish lira, vandalized the furniture, and ransacked the house. In a final act of cruelty, they taunted the elderly victims by eating food from their kitchen while they watched helplessly.”<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Another violent attack targeted 40-year-old <\/span><\/span>Riz<\/span><\/span>g<\/span><\/span>ar<\/span><\/span> Ma<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>mo<\/span><\/span>, a resident of Hassan <\/span><\/span>D<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>ra<\/span><\/span> village in the Bulbul district. He was assaulted by a displaced individual from a neighboring village while collecting firewood in <\/span><\/span>Hawar<\/span><\/span> Mountain early in the morning. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A video <\/span><\/span>footage <\/span><\/span>shared by an activist documented the attack, in which <\/span><\/span>Riz<\/span><\/span>g<\/span><\/span>ar<\/span><\/span> recounted:<\/span><\/span> “O<\/span><\/span>n the morning of the incident, I was heading to <\/span><\/span>Hawar<\/span><\/span>Mountain when a fight broke out between my dog and a dog belonging to a displaced shepherd from our village. As I attempted to separate them, I moved a child who was tending to the flock out of harm\u2019s way. The child then ran home and told his mother that I had attacked him. His mother, in turn, informed his father, a man in his fifties. Shortly after, the father attacked me with a metal rod, striking me on the head. I lost consciousness and only regained it when my cousin was rushing me to the hospital.”<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

According to exclusive sources, <\/span><\/span>Riz<\/span><\/span>g<\/span><\/span>ar<\/span><\/span>M<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>amo<\/span><\/span> suffered a skull hemorrhage as a result of the assault and required <\/span><\/span>urgent hospitalization at the Syrian Specialist Hospital in Afrin. Witnesses from the village confirmed that the perpetrator fled the scene and has not been seen since.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Arrests<\/span><\/span> in Retaliation for Complaints <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Le<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> team has <\/span><\/span>documented the arrest of 62-year-old <\/span><\/span>Abdelqader<\/span><\/span> Othman Sheikh Ali, a resident of <\/span><\/span>Midanki<\/span><\/span>village in the <\/span><\/span>Sharran<\/span><\/span> district. He was detained by members of Hayat <\/span><\/span>Tahrir<\/span><\/span>al-Sham (HTS), now operating under the current Interim Government, after seeking the return of his belongings and livestock from an individual who had occupied his home during his forced displacement from Afrin. Instead of complying, the occupant filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of vandalizing the property. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Zakaria<\/span><\/span> Omar (a pseudonym), a relative of the victim, shared details of the arrest with <\/span><\/span>L<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>After we left <\/span><\/span>Shahba<\/span><\/span> region <\/span><\/span>[a number of villages in the north of Aleppo] <\/span><\/span>following the second displacement<\/span><\/span> due to the Operation Dawn of Freedom by t<\/span><\/span>he Syrian National Army, my uncle, <\/span><\/span>Abdelqader<\/span><\/span> Othman, decided to return to his birthplace. He hoped to reclaim what remained of his belongings and livestock from the abandoned house. However, when he arrived, the current occupant, Hussein <\/span><\/span>Jindo<\/span><\/span>, refused to return anything. Unable to retrieve his possessions due to <\/span><\/span>Jindo\u2019s<\/span><\/span> ties with factions of the Syrian National Army, Uncle <\/span><\/span>Abdelqader<\/span><\/span> made multiple attempts\u2014five in total\u2014to negotiate their return. When these efforts failed, he turned to the former HTS, now operating as the Interim Government, to intervene. Eventually, he was able to recover some of his belongings and livestock.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Zakaria<\/span><\/span> continued describing what happened next:<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>On January 18, 2025, as Uncle <\/span><\/span>Abdelqader<\/span><\/span> arrived at the Al-<\/span><\/span>Ahdath<\/span><\/span> roundabout<\/span><\/span> [north of Aleppo]<\/span><\/span>, Hussein <\/span><\/span>Jindo<\/span><\/span> filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of vandalizing the house. As a result, members of the current government’s public security forces detained him at the roundabout and transferred him to <\/span><\/span>Hraytan<\/span><\/span> Prison for investigation, where he was held for ten days before being referred to the <\/span><\/span>Sarmada<\/span><\/span> Court in <\/span><\/span>Idlib<\/span><\/span> p<\/span><\/span>rovince. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

When his son visited him on the scheduled trial date, the judge informed him that the hearing had been postponed due to the plaintiff\u2019s absence. Over the following weeks, his son made four more attempts to attend the hearing in <\/span><\/span>Sarmada<\/span><\/span>, only to be told each time that the trial had been postponed again for the same reason.”<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Zakaria<\/span><\/span> concluded:<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>Since early February, we have received no <\/span><\/span>contact <\/span><\/span>from or information about him.”<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Legal Analysis<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This report underscores the gravity of the human rights violations occurring in Afrin, which contradict both local and international legal standards, particularly those aimed at protecting civilians in conflict zones. The violations outlined in this report can be analyzed through the following legal frameworks: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Legal <\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span>esponsibility for <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>bduction and <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>rbitrary <\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>etention<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>Kidnapping and detention without due process are clear breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantees: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.”<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>The Geneva Conventions categorically prohibit arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of civilians.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>The authorities in Afrin hold legal responsibility for maintaining security and safeguarding civilians. Should these authorities be complicit in the unlawful actions described, such violations may be classified as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment considers the torture or ill-treatment of detainees an international crime subject to prosecution. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n

Physical <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>ssaults and <\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>iolations <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>gainst <\/span><\/span>w<\/span><\/span>omen<\/span><\/span> and c<\/span><\/span>hildren<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>Physical and sexual assaults, as well as forced miscarriages, represent severe breaches of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Article 7 of the Rome Statute classifies rape, sexual enslavement, and forced abortion as crimes against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>The Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance highlights that enforced <\/span><\/span>disappearances involving women and children are considered aggravated violations due to their heightened vulnerability.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n

Looting, pl<\/span><\/span>undering, and <\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>eliberate <\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>estruction of <\/span><\/span>p<\/span><\/span>roperty<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>The destruction of civilian property and acts of looting are violations of international humanitarian law, as defined in Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits collective punishment and pillaging.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>If such actions are systematically carried out by the ruling factions, they may amount to war crimes, particularly if they target the indigenous population based on their ethnic identity.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Article 8 of the Rome Statute categorizes the unlawful destruction of property as a war crime, unless it can be justified by military necessity.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n

Lack of <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>ccountability and <\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>ocal <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>uthorities’ <\/span><\/span>c<\/span><\/span>omplicity<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>The report emphasizes the failure of local authorities to ensure accountability, perpetuating a culture of impunity\u2014a direct violation of their responsibility to provide effective justice mechanisms for victims.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>The failure of authorities to hold perpetrators accountable for these violations may amount to indirect liability, particularly if evidence suggests that these authorities were complicit or directly involved in the crimes.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Article 25 of the Rome Statute establishes individual criminal responsibility, meaning that both military and civilian leaders, as well as other individuals <\/span><\/span>responsible for these violations, may be prosecuted before the International Criminal Court. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n

Role of the <\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>nternational <\/span><\/span>c<\/span><\/span>ommunity and <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>ccountability <\/span><\/span>m<\/span><\/span>echanisms<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/span>In light of the ongoing and widespread nature of these crimes, and in the absence of local accountability, the international community\u2014particularly the United Nations Security Council\u2014must take decisive action to address and curtail these violations. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>Victims, along with human rights organizations, are encouraged to submit evidence of these violations to international bodies such as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, as well as to European judicial mechanisms that enable the prosecution of international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u2022 <\/span>If left unaddressed, the continued impunity for these crimes will severely complicate efforts toward transitional justice in Syria and undermine the prospects for lasting peace and national reconciliation. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

\n

Conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This report, prepared by <\/span><\/span>Lelu<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> team<\/span><\/span>, documents serious human rights violations occurring in the Syrian region of Afrin, which constitute blatant breaches of both national laws and international standards, particularly those aimed at protecting civilians in conflict zones.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The systematic nature of these violations stands in direct contradiction to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The persistence of these violations, compounded by the absence of effective accountability mechanisms, reflects a deteriorating security situation and highlights the urgent need for international intervention to safeguard civilian rights. The international community\u2014encompassing the United Nations, human rights organizations, and local advocacy groups\u2014must exert pressure on the ruling authorities to adhere to international law and bring an end to these abuses. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Documenting these crimes and collecting evidence is a critical step toward ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and do not escape justice. Moreover, this evidence forms the foundation for future transitional justice efforts that can restore victims’ rights and contribute to the broader goal of reconciliation. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The long-term solution lies in the establishment of genuine legal accountability, the cessation of ongoing war crimes and human rights violations, and the restoration of justice and stability in the region. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Systematic human rights violations against the indigenous population of Afrin, located in northwestern Syria, continue to intensify. These abuses coincide with significant political developments in Syria, including the declared “fall of the previous regime,” the release of detainees from government prisons, and the restructuring of military factions, with members of the “Syrian National Army” being …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEscalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Systematic human rights violations against the indigenous population of Afrin, located in northwestern Syria, continue to intensify. These abuses coincide with significant political developments in Syria, including the declared “fall of the previous regime,” the release of detainees from government prisons, and the restructuring of military factions, with members of the “Syrian National Army” being …\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lelun Afrin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100089759460400\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"608\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Hawar afrin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Hawar afrin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Hawar afrin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/bd9dc69b670643016b693ccfa9c64659\"},\"headline\":\"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria’s Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\"},\"wordCount\":2441,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\",\"name\":\"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":608},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria’s Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Lelun Afrin\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Lelun Afrin\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/@2xlogo1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/@2xlogo1.png\",\"width\":412,\"height\":232,\"caption\":\"Lelun Afrin\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100089759460400\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/bd9dc69b670643016b693ccfa9c64659\",\"name\":\"Hawar afrin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e8146f6f8a3950dcb7ac1b7b43df4a300c81e533558dcfcd8e39c8fafe816f72?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e8146f6f8a3950dcb7ac1b7b43df4a300c81e533558dcfcd8e39c8fafe816f72?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Hawar afrin\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/author\/h-afrin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin","og_description":"Systematic human rights violations against the indigenous population of Afrin, located in northwestern Syria, continue to intensify. These abuses coincide with significant political developments in Syria, including the declared “fall of the previous regime,” the release of detainees from government prisons, and the restructuring of military factions, with members of the “Syrian National Army” being …","og_url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/","og_site_name":"Lelun Afrin","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100089759460400","article_published_time":"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":608,"url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Hawar afrin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Hawar afrin","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/"},"author":{"name":"Hawar afrin","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/bd9dc69b670643016b693ccfa9c64659"},"headline":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria’s Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown","datePublished":"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/"},"wordCount":2441,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg","articleSection":["News Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/","url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/","name":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria's Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown - Lelun Afrin","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-04-04T13:35:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_8927.jpeg","width":1080,"height":608},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/escalating-human-rightsviolations-in-syrias-afrin-amidst-security-breakdown\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Escalating Human RightsViolations in Syria’s Afrin Amidst Security Breakdown"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/","name":"Lelun Afrin","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#organization","name":"Lelun Afrin","url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/@2xlogo1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/@2xlogo1.png","width":412,"height":232,"caption":"Lelun Afrin"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100089759460400"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/bd9dc69b670643016b693ccfa9c64659","name":"Hawar afrin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e8146f6f8a3950dcb7ac1b7b43df4a300c81e533558dcfcd8e39c8fafe816f72?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e8146f6f8a3950dcb7ac1b7b43df4a300c81e533558dcfcd8e39c8fafe816f72?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Hawar afrin"},"url":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/author\/h-afrin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2678"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2682,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678\/revisions\/2682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lelun-afrin.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}