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Eastern Ghouta and Qalamoun Displaced People Appeal to "Al-Shara" to Intervene in Afrin.. Militias Prevent Their Return to Their Cities
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Preventing displaced people from returning to their original areas reveals the continuation of demographic change policy despite the fall of Assad's regime and the liberation of most Syrian areas
An urgent appeal from displaced people from Eastern Ghouta, Rural Damascus, and Qalamoun revealed their ongoing suffering from the practices of "National Army" factions in the Afrin area, accusing them of repeating Assad regime's repressive methods.
In their message to military operations commander Ahmad Al-Shara, the displaced people reported that after Assad's overthrow and the opening of roads, they began organizing return convoys from Sheikh Hadid area to their cities and villages from which they were displaced during the war years.
The appeal explained that dozens of families who moved on December 16th were surprised by elements from "Al-Hamzat and Al-Amshat" factions blocking their way and forcing them to stay in homes of Kurdish displaced people from Afrin.
The prevention of displaced people's return coincided with imposing heavy fees on returning Sheikh Hadid residents from displacement areas in Shahba, Tel Rifaat, and Aleppo, where armed factions demand $1,500 from each family to allow them to return home.
Poor families unable to pay the fees were forced to stay in Jindires district, while displaced people continue to seize original residents' homes under armed factions' protection.
The appeal signatories, including sheikhs, activists, media professionals, and human rights advocates, pointed to "Al-Amshat, Al-Hamzat, Sultan Murad, and Al-Sharqiya" factions ignoring general command decisions calling for displaced people's return.
The displaced people accused these factions of running secret prisons similar to the notorious Sednaya prison in torture and liquidation methods, noting the continued operation of security branches like Political Security and Military Police in arresting civilians.
The appeal highlighted the paradox of liberating all Syria and dissolving security branches, except in "National Army" control areas where repressive apparatus still operates freely.
The signatories warned of attempts to ignite civil war by inflaming tensions between Syrian society components, demanding the dissolution of armed factions, collection of their weapons, and prosecution of their leaders for violations.
The displaced called on military operations management to impose its authority in the region, considering holding armed factions accountable "a moral and humanitarian necessity and justice for the oppressed."
The appeal emphasized that armed factions "became notorious for mercenary activities, terrorism, thievery, and criminality," noting their violations "are no less criminal than Assad regime's thugs and henchmen."
The displaced addressed their message to Al-Shara and general command, as well as media outlets, social media platforms, United Nations, and fact-finding commission, seeking protection and justice.
They concluded by blessing the Syrian revolution's victory and ending the rule of the "tyrant" who destroyed their cities and villages and displaced them, calling on the new leadership to protect them from "mercenaries" who replaced the regime in violating their rights.
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