The commander of an Islamist militia has reportedly seized 500 acres of farming land from Christian farmers in the town of Ras Al-Ein in northern Syria near the Turkish border.The area is under the control of a coalition of Islamist militias that are part of the Syrian National Army, an entity backed by Qatar and Turkey.The main groups involved in human rights abuses in Ras Al-Ein include the Al-Hamzat Battalion and Jaysh Al-Sharqya, reported the United Kingdom-based watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide, citing local sources.
The leader of Jaysh Al-Sharqya, Commander Abou Jammo, was identified as the one who ordered the confiscation, CSW said, adding that the United States has sanctioned these groups for their actions.Amid rising tensions, the militias have also threatened to increase the tax imposed on farmers from 20% to 35%.A tribal chief strongly condemned the confiscation and referred to the significant contributions of the Christian community to the region’s prosperity, particularly in education, agriculture and healthcare.
The Syrian opposition and governments of Qatar and Turkey should act immediately to bring these appalling practices against civilians in the areas under the control of these militias to an end,” he said. In a June visit, the commander of the 20th Division of the Syrian National Army met with the Christian community in Ras Al-Ein, promising to support and protect the dwindling Christian population.
However, the situation on the ground remains precarious.The conflict in Ras Al-Ein reflects larger challenges within the Syrian National Army, which was established in 2017 to lead Turkey’s counterterrorism missions in Syria after the fall of the Islamic State terror organization and its self-proclaimed caliphate. North Syria is home to a rich diversity of Syrians: Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others.
