[ad_1]
Photos posted by Turkish media on social media on July 17 feature Two faction leaders of the Syrian National Army (SNA), a loose alliance of armed opposition groups sponsored by Turkey in the northern regions of Syria it occupies, received a warm welcome in Turkey. In one photo, the two leaders were welcomed by Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP), the main coalition partner supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, and in another photo, they Strike a pose A convicted Turkish mafia boss. The photos are a stark reminder of Turkey’s failure to curb abuses by groups it supports.
Bahceli and convicted mafia boss Aleddin Çakic met separately with commanders Saif Abu Bakr and Mohammad Jassim, both of whom the US has accused of committing and overseeing egregious atrocities by their respective factions, the Hamzat Division and the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, including unlawful killings, kidnappings, torture, extortion, sexual violence and property seizures.
They and their factions All are subject to US sanctions Jassim, also known as Abu Amsha, was even investigated by the coalition of factions of the Syrian National Army in December 2021. The coalition said he was responsible for crimes against civilians, including threats, intimidation, attacks and looting. The two continued to lead their respective factions without interference, as did others accused of abuses. The areas of northern Syria under their control remain lawless and insecure.
This is largely because Turkey has long created an environment of impunity in the northern Syria it occupies. Human Rights Watch Report February 2024 The report documents atrocities committed by various factions of the Sudanese National Army, including Hamzat and Sultan Suleiman Shah. These include abductions, illegal detentions (including of children), sexual violence, and torture. In addition, the report highlights widespread looting, pillaging, and property seizures, and reveals that accountability measures have failed to curb these abuses or provide reparations to victims.
Photos like these show that Turkey is not only uninterested in addressing these abuses, but appears to be praising and encouraging those responsible. Bahceli’s public engagement with the leaders of both factions undermines efforts to hold them accountable and suggests tacit approval or official tolerance of their actions.
Turkey’s apparent celebration of these individuals stands in stark contrast to its responsibilities as an occupying power and blatantly disregards accountability, justice and the future stability of the region.
[ad_2]
Source link
