MESOP : ONGOING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY PYD/PKK IN WEST KURDISTAN – SYRIA

Syrian Kurdish Politician Kidnapped by PYD Force / KDP-S member Velmiz Osman was taken at his home

Basnews – 09.07.2015 – PYD Kurdish security force kidnap opposition politician – AFRIN – The Democratic Party of Kurdistan – Syria (KDP-S) said on Wednesday that security forces affiliated to the Democratic Union Party (PYD) kidnapped one of their leading members in Afrin on Tuesday, reported Welati. KDP-S member Velmiz Osman was arrested at his home, and the security police of the PYD (known as Asayis in Kurdish) searched his house on Tuesday evening.

The KDP-S strongly condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate release. “We hold these security forces responsible for the safety of our comrade, although it’s the third time he was arrested by these forces,” the KDP-S in Afrin said. Moreover, the party called on all human rights organisations and Kurdish forces to pressure the PYD to release the KDP-S member, as well as Ahmed Seydou, Idriss Alo, and Ahmed Cino. So far, the PYD has not released a statement, but the Asayis have previously arrested KDP-S members. The KDP-S is the Syrian branch of the KDP in Iraqi Kurdistan, and is led Saud Mela, and was the first Syrian Kurdish nationalist party to be created, in1957.