Kurdwatch Updates On PYD Arrests Of Rival Brigades
Kurdwatch NEWSLETTER MAY 2014
Most of the arrested/detained/captured (whatever word you want to use) persons were not merely activists, but most likely involved or accused of setting up rival armed groups (such as Sheikh Maqhuq Khaznawi see pictures above for those allegedly arrest by PYD security forces). Also YPG/Asayish often detains Kurds with links to FSA groups.
Most of the Al-Parti members were released, but members of Sheikh Khaznawi brigade remain in detention. Including Aladdin Hamam and his son Sarwar who were detained in February 2013 near Kobani and allegations of being linked to the FSA/Turkey. Ibrahim Kaban who was detained at the same time was released and was forced to sign an agreement.
Al-Qamishli: YPG kidnaps sixty-seven members of el‑Partî
KURDWATCH, May 23, 2013—On May 19, 2013, fighters of the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) kidnapped a total of sixty-seven members of ʿAbdulhakim Bashar’s Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (el‑Partî) from various locations. Most were returning from cadre training in Iraqi-Kurdistan. ʿAbdulhakim Bashar told KurdWatch: »The YPG is taking over the work of the regime. It acts like the State Security Service, the Military Intelligence Service, and the Political Security Directorate.« To the question of what exactly the cadres would have been doing in Iraqi-Kurdistan, he replied: »The PYD cannot dictate how we become active. What our cadres do in Iraqi-Kurdistan only concerns us, not the PYD.« The PYD stated that the members of el‑Partî were arrested because they had crossed the border illegally. They were released as long as there were no other known accusations against them. According to information from a high-ranking member of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), the Kurdish regional government (KRG) closed the Faysh Khabur border crossing (east of al-Mailikya [Dêrik]) on May 20, 2013 as an answer to the kidnapping.
Al-Qamishli: Parties of the Kurdish Democratic Political Union—Syria planning merger
KURDWATCH, May 22, 2013—ʿAbdulhakim Baschar, Secretary of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (el‑Partî), confirmed to KurdWatch media reports according to which the four parties of the Kurdish Democratic Political Union—Syria [further information on the Union] are planning the dissolution of their parties and the formation of a new party: »Yes, we have made this decision. We will form a committee that will prepare the merger. But this is not a matter of a couple of weeks. We are very close together, but we must ease into the process so that the merger does not fail.«
Raʾs al-ʿAyn: PYD’s Asayiş kidnap student
KURDWATCH, May 22, 2013—On May 18, 2013, members of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped the law student Sherko ʿAbdurrazzaq Khalil (b. 1992 in Raʾs al‑ʿAyn). The reasons behind the kidnapping remain unclear. An activist told KurdWatch: »Sherko’s family is accused of having debts of around ninety thousand Syrian Lira. Due to this, charges have been filed. I don’t believe, however, that the PYD is interested in detaining someone for such a sum. I think the reason for the detention is because one of Sherko’s close relatives was active for the Free Syrian Army.«
Al-Qamishli: PYD’s Asayiş kidnap activist
KURDWATCH, May 22, 2013—On May 16, 2013, members of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped Kajin Khalaf Sirajuddin (b. 1988 in al‑Qamishli). In a video that has been made public, the father of the student and member of the Shaykh-Maʿshuq-Khaznawi Battalion of the Kurdish Union Party in Syria (Yekîtî) stated that the Asayiş claimed his son was wanted, without, however, giving the reason for this. He demanded his son’s immediate release.
Tall Maʿruf: PYD’s Asayiş kidnap member of the Yekîtî
KURDWATCH, May 20, 2013—On May 13, 2013, members of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped Sardar Qare, member of the Kurdish Union Party in Syria (Yekîtî), in Tall Maʿruf (twenty kilometers southeast of al‑Qamishli). According to a statement by the Yekîtî, the context to the kidnapping is Qare’s military engagement for the party, which maintains several military battalions with a few dozen fighters each in the Kurdish regions.
Al-Qamishli: YPG releases Yekîtî fighter
KURDWATCH, May 18, 2013—On April 24, 2013, the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) released Muhammad Salim Muhammad Saʿid, member of the Kurdish Union Party in Syria’s (Yekîtî) Shaykh-Maʿshuq-Khaznawi Battalion. Muhammad Saʿid and six more members of the battalion were kidnapped by the YPG on April 17. The other fighters remain under the power of the YPG. A member of the Shaikh-Maʿshuq-Khaznawi Battailons told KurdWatch that Muhammad Saʿid was tortured by the YPG.