MESOP : KURDWATCH REPORT JUNE / JULY 2015 – MORE & SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY PYD(PKK)/YPG IN WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA)

ʿAyn al‑ʿArab: PYD recruits three minorsKURDWATCH, July 26, 2015—On July 18, 2015, the minor ʿUdula Muhammad Ahmad (b. 2001) joined the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) against her parents’ will. On July 19, 2015, Rohlat Mustafa Jamo (female, b. 1999) and Nizar Ibrahim Jamo (male, b. 1998) also joined the YPG against their parents’ will. All three are from the village of ʿAyn al‑Batt, twenty kilometers southeast of ʿAyn al‑ʿArab (Kobanî). On July 19, relatives of the teenagers confronted PYD members living in the same village and blamed them for the recruitment. Since then tensions in the village have been running high.

 

Ad-Darbasiyah: PYD’s Asayiş kidnaps twelve-year-oldKURDWATCH, July 26, 2015—On July 22, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped twelve-year-old Mahmud Muhammad Schaikho (b. on 2. January 2003) from a soccer field in ad‑Darbasiyah. When the boy’s parents demanded his release at an Asayiş station, they were promised that this would happen the following day. The promise was not kept.

 

 

ʿAmudah: Asayiş kidnaps member of the Kurdish National CouncilKURDWATCH, July 26, 2015—On July 21, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped Muhammad Hasan Shuwaysh, a member of the Kurdish National Council, in front of his home in ʿAmudah. The exact reason for the kidnapping is not known. The Kurdish National Council condemned the kidnapping in a statement.

 

 

Al-Maʿbada: Explosion causes deaths and injuriesKURDWATCH, July 26, 2015—On July 21, 2015, a serious explosion occurred at a site in Rumaylan, one that the Syrian government previously used for military purposes. It is believed that the explosion involved an ammunition depot belonging to the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG). At least four YPG fighters were killed and others were injured. There is no information available regarding the cause of the explosion.

 

 

Al-Qamishli: Asayiş kidnaps seventy-year-old womanKURDWATCH, July 23, 2015—On July 20, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped seventy-year-old Khadijah Kale from her home in al‑Qamishli. A few days prior, Kale had complained at a PYD People’s House about an interruption to the power supply. A verbal confrontation between Kale, an employee of the People’s House, and three cadres for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) reportedly ensued. The activists allegedly later complained about Kale to the Asayiş.

 

 

Al-Hasakah: YPG controls all territories surrounding the cityKURDWATCH, July 23, 2015—On July 19, 2015, fighters for the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) captured the territories between Jabal ʿAbdulʿaziz (Çiyayê Kezwan) west of al‑Hasakah and the region south of the city, which was already under their control [further information]. The YPG now controls all of the territories surrounding the city of al‑Hasakah. The Islamic State (IS) is still in control of several districts in the city. The Syrian Armed Forces, in particular the Air Force, as well as Arab militias with close ties to the regime are also fighting against the IS in al‑Hasakah, but have not yet reported any successes.

 

 

Al-Hasakah: Asayiş kidnaps PDK‑S local committee memberKURDWATCH, July 23, 2015—On July 18, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped Khalaf Ahmad Husayn, a member of the local committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria (PDK‑S), from his home in al‑Hasakah. Husayn was released on 19. July. He told KurdWatch: »They accused me of being against the PYD. When they kidnapped me during the night, the Asayiş were very aggressive. They ransacked my house and frightened my children. But when I was in the prison, they were nicer to me«.

 

 

Al-Hasakah: PYD’s Asayiş kidnaps father and sonKURDWATCH, July 21, 2015—On July 15, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), stormed the home of Asʿad Ibrahim Yasin, a member of the local committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria (PDK‑S), in al‑Hasakah and beat him in front of his children. They then kidnapped him and his teenage son Ibrahim (b. 1998). Only a few days earlier, his son had been detained at an Asayiş checkpoint for wearing a peshmerga uniform. He had tried to join the Rojava Peshmerga in Iraqi-Kurdistan, however he was rejected because of his age, and he subsequently returned to Syria.

 

Al-Qamishli: Asayiş kidnaps PDK‑S central committee memberKURDWATCH, July 21, 2015—On July 16, 2015, employees of the Asayiş, the security service of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), kidnapped Hasan Ramzi, a member of the central committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Union Party – Syria (PDK‑S), from his home in al‑Qamishli. The background to the kidnapping is not known.

 

ʿAmudah: Four YPG fighters arrested for the murder of David JandoKURDWATCH, July 21, 2015—On July 17, 2015, the General Command of the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) in ʿAmudah reported that David Jando, founder of the Assyrian Khabur Guards, was killed on April 22, 2015 by four YPG fighters [further information]. At the same time, the General Command distanced itself from the murder and explained that it was not in keeping with YPG politics. An investigative commission comprised of members of the YPG and Assyrian Military Council determined that the suspects should be arrested and brought to court.