Local sources to “Afrin Now”: The company, affiliated with the Syrian Sovereign Fund, seized portions of olive crops and land containing about 50 trees in the Mobata and Rajo districts, amid criticism of the procedures regarding lands returned to their owners.
Complaints regarding agricultural land property rights in the Afrin region have renewed, with reports indicating that “Iktafa Agricultural Investment Company,” affiliated with the Syrian Sovereign Fund, has taken over lands and olive crops belonging to Kurdish citizens in the Katekh Plain (Deşta Kitxê), between the Mobata and Rajo districts in the Afrin countryside of Western Kurdistan, under the pretext of failure to present ownership documents or the presence of issues within them.
Local sources reported to “Afrin Now” that the company seized portions of the olive harvest at multiple locations in the area, coinciding with the harvesting season, amid ongoing debate over the procedures applied to agricultural lands whose owners returned after years of confiscation.
In one instance, the company took four sacks of olives out of ten harvested from land located near the junction of Afrazah village (Avrezê), belonging to Mobata district, according to the sources. They explained that the landowners have continued working on it since the fall of the former regime, but the company justified taking a share of the crop due to the failure to submit proof of ownership.
Meanwhile, in Lower Koliya village (Goliyê Jêrîn), under Rajo district, the company seized land containing approximately 50 olive trees near the village and harvested its crop, according to local sources. The land belongs to the deceased husband (“A. H.”) of Mrs. “F. B.”, who was working it, with the incident linked to an issue regarding ownership documents.
According to the sources, Iktafa Company requires owners of lands that were previously seized in past years, and who have returned to the region, to produce documents proving their ownership. In the event of failing to provide the required documents or if irregularities exist, the company assumes control over and invests the lands, according to the same reports.
Issues related to documentation include, according to the sources, inheritance matters or the registration of land under the name of a relative of the person currently working it—issues that can lead to disputes over establishing ownership and the right to use and benefit from the land and its crops.
These developments come amidst continued debate and criticism surrounding Iktafa Company’s decisions and procedures regarding agricultural lands in the Afrin region (Efrîn), particularly lands to which owners returned after years of seizure, coinciding with the olive harvest season—a vital milestone for farmers and landowners in the region.
These complaints fall within a broader context concerning housing, land, and property rights in Afrin, which has witnessed widespread displacement of its population since the 2018 Turkish military operation, followed by documented cases of seizures of homes, agricultural lands, and private property.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
