MESOP REPORT : Islamists allow displaced Kurds to return to Syria’s Tel Abyad ‘on conditions’

 13-04-2014 –  ARA News –  Urfa, Turkey− The al-Qaeda splinter group of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) issued a statement on Friday, announcing that the group has decided to pardon the Kurdish residents of Tel Abyad city in northern Syria who have been displaced by the same group last month.

Dozens of Kurdish families were forced by ISIL to leave their houses in Tel Abyad after being accused of supporting the Kurdish forces of the Popular Protection Units (YPG) −which is in conflict with ISIL.Members of ISIL announced that the displaced Kurdish inhabitants of Tel Abyad may return home on condition of “giving up their Kurdish national identity and fully submit to the Islamic rules implemented (by ISIL) in the city”.   ISIL’s decision raised outrage among Syria Kurds. Local sources reported that the majority of the displaced Kurdish civilians from Tel Abyad refused to respond to ISIL’s call and rejected to return to home as long as members of ISIL are in control over the city. Most of Tel Abyad’s Kurds crossed the borders into Turkey last month after ISIL’s threats to attack their houses.  Reporting by: Hana Muslim