The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) continues to detain, ill-treat, and extort civilians in North and East Syria, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement published on its official website.

The organisation also called on the Syrian interim government to end the rights violations and to purge the army of individuals implicated in the abuses.

 

HRW criticised the appointment of names within the SNA who have been involved in serious rights violations in the past to important positions in the interim government and said, " Syria’s transitional government should work to end and investigate ongoing abuses and exclude those with records of abuse from the Syrian security forces."

 

In the statement, Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said that the fall of the Assad regime would mean the end of decades of oppression and stressed: “But Syrian National Army factions are continuing to detain, extort, and torture residents with impunity.” 

 

“As Syria’s transitional government is integrating into its ranks SNA factions and other armed groups, it must exclude those in the SNA that are responsible for abuses and hold them accountable,” Coogle said. “If it doesn’t do so, the Syrian people will not be able to trust their armed forces and will be vulnerable to yet more abuse.”

 

PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASSACRES

 

On 9 October 2019, on the 4th day of the SNA's attack on Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê cities in North and East Syria, the name of Hatem Abu Shaqra, the commander of the 86th Division, who assassinated Hawrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Syrian Future Party, was also mentioned. 

 

Among the commanders involved in past abuses and who now hold influential posts in the new Syrian military are Mohammad al-Jassem (Abu Amsha) leading the 62nd Division; Saif Boulad (Saif Abu Bakr) leading the 76th Division; Fehim Isa as the defense minister’s assistant for northern affairs; and most recently, Ahmed al-Hais (Abu Hatem Shaqra) leading the 86th Division in the eastern region.

 

'TURKEY BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR CRIMES'

 

In a report published by the human rights organisation Syrrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), 41 arrests were documented by SNA troops and affiliated groups in January and February, 10 of which took place after the newly formed General Security forces of the Syrian interim government entered the cities north of Aleppo on 6 February in agreement to take over control from the SDF. 

 

In STJ's report, despite the removal of most of the SNA's checkpoints, names in Afrin and other areas indicated that the SNA is still operating in its old bases, " Qussai Jukhadar, a researcher for STJ, said arrests decreased in March but hundreds remain detained in SNA-run, Turkish-supervised prisons.”

 

The statement reminded of the agreement signed between SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi and the interim government head Shara.

 

“Syrian authorities bear responsibility for abuses by forces integrated into the army as well as for preventing abuses and ensuring accountability. Türkiye, which still oversees former SNA factions and continues to provide weapons, salaries, training, and logistical support to these factions, also bears responsibility for their abuses and potential war crimes,” it was stated. 

 

HRW called on the interim government, Turkey and the international community to address the violations and stated following: 

 

“*The Syrian transitional government should urgently unify its military under an accountable command with civilian oversight and ensure adherence to international human rights standards. It should take steps to prevent further abuses against Kurdish and other residents in northern Syria, ensure the release of all arbitrarily detained people, and investigate past abuses with fair legal proceedings. Türkiye should discontinue support to abusive commanders and factions and provide reparations to victims. 

 

*The transitional government should create conditions for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced people, and grant independent monitors unrestricted access to all detention facilities, including those operated by former SNA factions and Turkish forces. 

 

*Other countries should provide technical and financial assistance to ensure that the new security forces protect civilians and observe the rule of law, including supporting an independent judiciary to ensure lawful detention and treatment of detainees.”