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"Leilun" Association reveals details of suppressing a women's protest in "Kakhra" village in Afrin
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Documents gathered by Leilun researchers emphasize the need for urgent international action to stop ongoing violations in Afrin, highlighting the suffering of indigenous residents under the rule of Tu
The Leilun Association for Victims has unveiled a series of serious violations in Kakhra village in occupied Afrin region, in an exclusive investigative report published today. The report, based on live testimonies and field investigations, documented brutal attacks carried out by the "Sultan Suleiman Shah" faction, known as "Al-Amshat," against civilians, especially women.
Despite strict restrictions and security threats, Leilun Center researchers managed to collect documented testimonies from victims and eyewitnesses to the tragic events in the village. According to the report, the events erupted when a brave group of about twenty village women organized a peaceful protest on Sunday, September 15, 2024, rejecting the imposition of exorbitant royalties.
The report conveyed an exclusive testimony from Lara Al-Ali (pseudonym), one of the protest participants, who told Leilun researchers: "We faced excessive violence when we tried to protest peacefully. They attacked us with batons and whips, and fired randomly to disperse us. Many women were injured and suffered fractures."
The report revealed subsequent repressive measures, where the faction imposed a curfew and cut off communication services to prevent information leakage. Another witness (Ahmed Al-Ahmad/pseudonym) confirmed to the center's researchers: "After the attack, they completely besieged the village. Everyone is living in a state of terror, and we fear what might happen next."
The report also documented cases of gross financial extortion, with Leilun researchers quoting a special source (Yousef Saeed/pseudonym): "The faction forced one family to pay $8,000 as part of the royalties, while they demanded amounts up to $4,000 from other families."
The report recorded a shocking testimony from one of the survivors, revealing threats of rape and degrading practices against civilians. The report pointed to the systematic continuation of violations, including cutting off communications and threatening residents to prevent information leakage.
This investigative report by the Leilun Association for Victims comes in the context of its ongoing efforts to document violations in the occupied areas of Afrin. It's worth noting that the center has published a series of previous reports documenting similar violations in other areas under the control of Turkish-backed factions.
Afrin residents are calling on international and human rights organizations to take immediate action to protect them. They are calling for an international investigation into the documented violations and accountability for those responsible. Meanwhile, observers emphasize the need for serious work to end the Turkish occupation and ensure the safe and dignified return of forcibly displaced people to Afrin.
