The Afrin area, previously occupied by the SNA until control was transferred to the transitional administration in early February 2025,656 witnessed during the reference period numerous instances of civilians being subjected to killing,657 kidnapping,658 beating,659 threats660 and intimidation,661 as well as armed robbery/looting662 by members of militias, including SNA-affiliated factions such as the Sultan Murad Division,663 the Al-Hamzat Division,664 and the Suleiman Shah faction.665 Rudaw quoted the human rights monitor Violations Documentation Center (VDC) as saying that 87 people had reportedly been kidnapped between 1 January and 8 February 2025.666 At least one child was killed during gunfights involving theft and robbery.667
- 656
FDD, Syrian government forces enter Afrin, signaling a change in control, 6 February 2025, url; BasNews, Syrian Forces Take Control of Afrin From Turkish-Backed SNA, 6 February 2025, url
- 657
SOHR, Six gunshots | Members of “Al-Sultan Murad” kills a civilian after exiting a mosque in Efrin, 7 January 2025, url
- 658
Rudaw, 87 people ‘kidnapped’ in Afrin since start of 2025: local watchdog, 8 February 2025, url; ANHA, Turkish occupation mercenaries continue to commit crimes in Afrin, 17 February 2025, url; SOHR, Ongoing violations | Turkish-backed factions kidnap six women and arrest five young men in north Aleppo countryside, 11 January 2025, url; SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | “National Army” factions continue kidnaps, arbitrary arrests and looting of civilian properties, 28 December 2024, url
- 659
SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions brutally beat civilians, loot civilian properties and fell fruit-bearing trees, 23 January 2025, url
- 660
SOHR, Ongoing violations | Turkish-backed “Suleiman Shah” Faction storms houses in Efrin and impose extra royalties, 14 January 2025, url
- 661
SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions brutally beat civilians, loot civilian properties and fell fruit-bearing trees, 23 January 2025, url
- 662
ANHA, Turkish occupation mercenaries continue to commit crimes in Afrin, 17 February 2025, url; Rudaw, Armed thieves rob elderly man as crime increases in Afrin: Monitor, 14 February 2025, url; SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions brutally beat civilians, loot civilian properties and fell fruit-bearing trees, 23 January 2025, url; SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | “National Army” factions continue kidnaps, arbitrary arrests and looting of civilian properties, 28 December 2024, url
- 663
SOHR, Six gunshots | Members of “Al-Sultan Murad” kills a civilian after exiting a mosque in Efrin, 7 January 2025, url
- 664
SOHR, Ongoing violations in Afrin | Turkish-backed factions brutally beat civilians, loot civilian properties and fell fruit-bearing trees, 23 January 2025, url
- 665
SOHR, Ongoing violations | Turkish-backed “Suleiman Shah” Faction storms houses in Efrin and impose extra royalties, 14 January 2025, url
- 666
Rudaw, 87 people ‘kidnapped’ in Afrin since start of 2025: local watchdog, 8 February 2025, url
- 667
SOHR, Stray bullet | Girl killed during clashes between “Mohamed Al-Fateh” Faction and thieves in Efrin, 15 November 2024, url