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Human Rights

Tahrir al-Sham rounds up youth in western Aleppo

By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo

Tahrir al-Sham has been issuing summons to individuals in the areas under its control in northern Syria, ordering them to present themselves for questioning. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Tahrir al-Sham has been issuing summons to individuals in the areas under its control in northern Syria, ordering them to present themselves for questioning. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

A wave of discontent is sweeping through northern Syria after Tahrir al-Sham launched a large-scale campaign of detentions and expulsions in the areas of western Aleppo it recently seized, a local activist said.

Most of those summoned to appear before the extremist alliance, who are liable to be exiled, are youth who were at the vanguard of the opposition movement against the Syrian regime, activist Musab Assaf told Diyaruna.

Tahrir al-Sham has begun a large-scale round-up of young men in western Aleppo, which it seized during recent battles with the Syrian Liberation Front.

"At checkpoints in rural Aleppo, Hama and Idlib provinces, Tahrir al-Sham elements are closely inspecting identification documents and detaining on the spot all youth whose names appear on its wanted lists," Assaf said.

Tahrir al-Sham elements stand on a military vehicle in western rural Aleppo, where the extremist alliance has been conducting a round-up of youth. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Tahrir al-Sham elements stand on a military vehicle in western rural Aleppo, where the extremist alliance has been conducting a round-up of youth. [Photo courtesy of Musab Assaf]

Meanwhile, he added, Tahrir al-Sham patrols are delivering summons to those wanted for investigation, ordering them to appear before the group.

Any wanted individual who receives the summons and fails to comply is liable to be picked up at any time by the extremist alliance, Assaf said.

Tahrir al-Sham put a special focus on distributing the summons in the city of al-Atareb, Assaf said, because it is home to hundreds of youth who oppose it.

Many are youth who were among the first to join the anti-regime demonstrations, who have served in Free Syrian Army (FSA) units, as media activists and relief workers, and have gained the trust of the region’s residents.

Banishment or enticement

According to Assaf, some individuals who complied with the summons said the investigation was related to the time they worked with other groups.

Tahrir al-Sham sought to obtain information about the leadership structure of those groups, he added, and tried to find out whether they were still receiving orders from them.

Those summoned to appear before Tahrir al-Sham also said they were forced to sign pledges not to engage in any political or military activity, Assaf said.

"Media activists and journalists were similarly prohibited from engaging in any media work or activity without prior permission from Tahrir al-Sham," he added.

Assaf said Tahrir al-Sham is trying to entice those youth to work for it by offering them monthly salaries and other privileges if they consent, at which time they would undergo sharia training courses.

There is great concern in al-Atareb that the purpose of some of the summons is to expel those who receive them, as was the case in the town of Darat Azza.

"Residents of Darat Azza summoned by Tahrir a-Sham were forced to leave the area controlled by the extremist alliance, sparking a wave of anger among civilians who see this as utterly unacceptable," Assaf said.

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