Al-Shahba IDPs' Committee condemns arrests in Tel Aran, Tel Hasel

The Committee of Displaced Persons from al-Shahba Region issued a written statement to the public opinion, condemning the "repeated arbitrary arrest campaigns" targeting civilians in al-Shahba region, particularly in the towns of Tel Aran and Tel Hasel. The committee warned of escalating violations against the Kurdish population, amid the silence of the authorities controlling the area.

In its statement, the committee asserted that "the arrests carried out by Turkish-backed armed factions, with the knowledge of the security services affiliated with the Interim Government, are no longer isolated incidents, but have become a systematic pattern aimed at intimidating and financially extorting local residents, and forcibly displacing them from their original area."

The statement added that the people of al-Shahba region have suffered for years from arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, and torture. It noted that policies of repression and discrimination against the Kurds continue despite the political and military changes in the country, amid "suspicious international silence and a complete absence of accountability."

The committee affirmed that al-Shahba region has become an "open arena for violations," including forced displacement, property confiscation, and systematic demographic change, emphasizing its responsibility towards the displaced.

The committee held the Syrian Interim Government and the Turkish occupation forces legally and morally responsible for these violations, demanding an immediate halt to arrests and the release of civilians.

It also appealed to the United Nations and international human rights organizations to intervene urgently to pressure Ankara to stop these practices and ensure the protection of civilians.

Furthermore, the committee called on the "Interim Government to implement Article 5 of the agreement signed between the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, and the head of the Interim Government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on March 10, particularly the clause concerning guaranteeing the safe and voluntary return of the displaced."

The committee stressed that stability in northern Syria will only be achieved by ending the policies of arrest and displacement and enabling the population to return safely and with dignity. Al-Shahba Displaced Persons Committee concluded its statement by holding international powers morally and humanely responsible for stopping the ongoing violations, calling for urgent action to ensure justice and accountability in al-Shahba areas.

J.J