CSW has learned that the commander of an Islamist militia has confiscated 500 acres of farming land belonging to Christian farmers in the town of Ras Al-Ein in northern Syria.
Ras Al-Ein is close to the Syrian border with Turkey and is currently under the control of a coalition of Islamist militias working under the Syrian National Army, an umbrella organisation consisting of different Islamist groups loyal to and supported by the governments of Qatar and Turkey.
According to local sources, the main militias responsible for violations in the area are the Al-Hamzat Battalion, led by Seif Boulad, and Jaysh Al-Sharqya, led by Abou Hatem Shaqra. Commander Abou Jammo, who ordered the confiscation of the land, belongs to the latter. Both groups are sanctioned by the US government. Sources also confirmed that the militias are threatening to increase the tax they impose on farmers from 20% to 35%.
A local tribal chief told CSW: ‘We strongly condemn and reject these practices, and we have tried to reach out to these militias and their Turkish masters but they have constantly ignored us. Our Christian brothers have contributed massively to the development and richness of our area; they ran the most successful education, agricultural and health projects, and we are concerned that the remaining Christians will be forced to leave, which would be a big loss for us all.’
Speaking on behalf of Syrian Christians for Rights & Dialogue (SCRD), a non-governmental organisation that advocates for a political solution to the conflict in Syria, the prominent Syrian Christian politician Ayman Abdelnour said: ‘We are deeply concerned by these developments, these criminal groups have been oppressing and terrorising local communities from all religious and ethnic backgrounds. Some of their violations amount to crimes against humanity. We call upon human rights organisations like CSW to continue to raise these issues with the UK and US governments and at the UN and EU levels. The international community must press the Syrian Opposition and governments backing and funding these groups to restrain them and bring perpetrators to justice. SCRD will be leading a delegation to the EU to expose these groups and those behind them.’
On 22 June the commander of the 20th Division of the Syrian National Army had visited the Christian community in Ras Al-Ein and had promised to support and protect the few remaining Christians in the town.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘Once again these groups and their backers have demonstrated their utter disregard for the fundamental rights of Syrian citizens, especially those from religious and ethnic minority communities. These flagrant human rights violations should not go unpunished. The Syrian opposition and governments of Qatar and Turkey should act immediately to bring these appalling practices against civilians in the areas under the control of these militias to an end.’