The Syrian city of Manbij, located in northeastern Aleppo countryside, is witnessing a significant increase in human rights and security violations carried out by Turkey-backed militias. These violations include systematic kidnappings, home raids, looting of properties, and the confiscation of shops and residential houses, sparking widespread anger and resentment among the city’s residents.
Kidnappings and Intimidation
Local residents report that kidnappings have become an almost daily occurrence, targeting civilians under the pretext of “collaboration with hostile parties.” Families of abductees are often forced to pay exorbitant ransoms to secure their release, further burdening families already struggling with dire economic conditions.
Home Raids and Property Looting
The violations extend beyond kidnappings, as these groups have also been raiding homes and terrorizing their inhabitants. According to local testimonies, they seize private property, looting furniture and money under various pretexts, such as searching for wanted individuals or weapons.
Confiscation of Shops
The militias have also imposed control over commercial establishments, forcibly closing many shops and confiscating goods under the guise of unpaid taxes or fabricated violations. These shops are later repurposed to serve the factions’ interests or sold to affiliated investors.
Public Looting and Open Theft
The violations also include stealing public property, such as farmland and infrastructure facilities. Residents have reported theft of agricultural crops and the imposition of levies on farmers, warning of an impending economic and livelihood crisis.
Reactions
These violations have provoked anger and frustration among the city’s residents, who have called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene and stop these transgressions. However, the city suffers from a near-total absence of international oversight, making it difficult to curb these violations.
Appeals to the International Community
Manbij residents urge international human rights organizations to investigate these violations and hold those responsible accountable. They also call for an end to the actions of these armed groups, which undermine stability and threaten the city’s social fabric.
Amid these tragic circumstances, Manbij remains a witness to the scale of the suffering endured by areas under the control of Turkey-backed militias, with civilians continuing to endure hardships in the absence of clear solutions to their plight.
