Statement:
Amid the escalating economic crises in Turkey and the collapse of the lira’s value, we have obtained information indicating the involvement of officers in the Turkish army in kidnapping and torturing Syrians in the areas under their control through the Syrian “National Army” militia. These civilians are being thrown into notorious prisons with the aim of extorting their families and demanding exorbitant ransoms.
Involvement of Turkish Army Officers:
The specific information indicates that officers from the Turkish army, leading smaller groups within their forces, directly oversee these operations. Syrians are kidnapped from their homes, at checkpoints, or while attempting to return to their areas; they are then held in inhumane conditions. The ransoms demanded from the families of the kidnapped can reach up to $11,000 per person in some cases, making it an easy way for these officers to earn money, especially as their living conditions deteriorate due to the economic crisis in Turkey.
Covert and Complex Operations:
These operations are carried out in complete secrecy under the supervision of high-ranking Turkish army officers, using a network of local partners to execute the kidnappings and extortions. Additionally, the officers benefit from their relationships with elements of the National Army militia to cover their illegal activities.
Smuggling Syrians Across the Border:
The exploitation by Turkish officers is not limited to kidnappings; it also extends to smuggling Syrians across the border in various ways. Syrians are smuggled using the officers’ own vehicles or through border monitoring points, coordinated with the Turkish gendarmerie. These operations are conducted through a complex network of partners in the border region, where Turkish officers receive amounts ranging from $4,000 to $7,000 for smuggling each individual.
Systematic Violations:
These practices indicate a systematic involvement of Turkish officers in exploiting the suffering of the Syrian people for personal gain, raising concerns about the extent of high-level involvement in the Turkish army in these violations. Under these circumstances, we at the Documentation Center demand independent investigations into these violations and accountability for those involved, to ensure the protection of civilians and human rights in the occupied areas.
This report shows that the situation in areas under Turkish control in northern Syria is not limited to military conflict but extends to the systematic exploitation of civilians for illegal financial gains. These practices add a new layer of suffering for Syrians living under occupation and underscore the urgent need for international action to stop these violations.
Source: Documentation Center for Violations in Northern Syria
*The original text in Arabic has been translated by Advanced-translate.
مركز حقوقي: تورط ضباط في الجيش التركي في عمليات اختطاف وابتزاز السوريين
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