Turkish forces and Syrian groups under their control raided homes of residents Afrin town and villages and arrested more than 64 citizens in less than 48 hours on various charges including the celebration and the burning of the anniversary of Newroz.
The local councils, which were appointed by Turkey to manage the cities in their areas of control, issued reports prohibiting Newroz celebration , which the Kurds consider a holy holiday and a special symbol to resist injustice and tyranny.
Syrian armed groups arrested a number of young men and men in Shrawa and Kafarsfara in Jundressa, Shih, Rajo, Basota and other areas of Afrin countryside, on charges of “celebrating Newroz and setting fire to commemorate his anniversary.” The arrest came on Newroz eve celebrated by the Kurds on March 21 / March of each year, where the Kurds set fire in villages and hills to celebrate their symbolic historic.
A circular issued by the local working councils stated that there would be no public holidays on 20 March, or any other days, that there would be no official holiday at Newroz and that all official institutions would continue to operate on the 21st of the same month, Allow citizens at the Newroz celebration to demonstrate, set fire, or celebrate or entertain.
In Jandrisah area and Kafr Safra village, the Samarkand Brigade, which controls the area, gathered a group of residents after firing their weapons. They dispersed the group, warning of celebration of Newroz Dayand arrested citizens such as Muhammad Suleiman, Muhammad Mustafa Mawas and Murad Mohammed Khalo.
In Maidana villages in Raju district, the villagers were gathered and informed of the ban on gatherings in ” Newroz celebration ” and in anticipation of two citizens arrest : Abdo Sheikho Bin Mohammed, Abdu Qasim Birm, Ahmad Hamo bin Shaaban, Haitham Habash bin Mustafa, Ahmed Qamar Bin Mohammed, Ben Mohammed, Bakr Mohammed.
In Shih / Shaykh al-Hadid area, Al amashat faction abducted a number of civilians from Jqali Ortah village and set up a ransom of $ 2,000 for their release. They were identified as: Ali Sheikh Zaynil, Muhammad Jumaa Battal, Haydar Ghosu, Mustafa Bilal, Aref Sheikh Zinel, Aziz Mustafa Mustafa, Biram, Abdo Kalu, Anwar Othman, Ali Rashid Tari, Abdul Rahman Ali Battal, Hassan Haji Ahmed.
Fatima Tuwaili, 65 years old and her son Mohammed Jabou, 30 years old , were released for $ 2,000. Citizens from Alkana and Khalil Kulko villages were also released from the same faction for money: Jamil Majid Khalil, Abdel Rahman Ahmed Sabri, Mohamed Abdel Rahman Khalo , Ahmed Shukri Habash, Mahmoud Jallow, Mohammed Tobal, Mohammed Alo, Walid Khalil Khalil, Abdeen Haider Rashid.
The military police kidnapped four people from Karzila village in Shirawa area. They were Mustafa Hamkru, his son Abdo, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Hamkar and his son Salah. Arrests were carried out in the Basota area, whose residents were only lighting candles.
Islamic factions gunmen have destroyed the statue of the Kurdish symbol Kawa Haddad, whose statue was placed in one of squares of Afrin city , coinciding with the approaching of Newroz, which falls on March 21 of each year.
