Afrin: Five Maabatli Residents Detained at Sharran Checkpoint
Civilians returning to their hometowns face multiple risks, exacerbating the displacement crisis and hindering efforts to restore normal life in conflict-affected areas
April 5, 2025, 6:37 pm

Afrin: Five Maabatli Residents Detained at Sharran Checkpoint

انتهاكات في عفرين.. قمع مظاهرات وفرض إتاوات على مزارعي الزيتون

Five residents of Maabatli town in Afrin countryside were arbitrarily detained while passing through a military checkpoint near the village of Maranaz in Sharran district, Afrin countryside. The arrest was carried out by members of the "Al-Amshat" faction as the civilians were returning to Afrin city, north of Aleppo.

This incident highlights the ongoing human rights violations against civilians in areas controlled by armed factions, further exacerbating insecurity and instability.

The detainees were reportedly beaten and insulted before being taken to an undisclosed location, with no explanation for their arrest. The motive behind the detention appears to be extortion, as such incidents are often linked to demands for ransom.

Kidnapping and detaining individuals for ransom has become a systematic method of generating financial resources amid the absence of effective oversight on the actions of certain factions.

One of the detainees' families was contacted and asked to pay a ransom for his release. However, despite paying the requested amount, their relative was not freed, causing deep concern about his fate.

These incidents are recurrent across different parts of Afrin, highlighting the urgent need to enhance civilian protection mechanisms and ensure freedom of movement.

One of the detainees had previously completed his mandatory military service with the fleeing regime forces and was previously arrested when he attempted to defect. He was later released after paying a ransom before heading to Aleppo city.

This case reflects the struggles of many Syrian youths who find themselves victims of violations by various parties, with no entity to protect them or guarantee their fundamental rights.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
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