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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| HTS continues mounting arrests in northwest Syria |
| 2022-03-20 |
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Areas run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) in Idlib governorate and the countryside of Hama and Latakia have recently witnessed an increase in arrests against journalists and civilians in a way similar to that of the Syrian government’s Shabiha (state sponsored militias) without clear charges and reasons for the arrest. Many international and local organizations reported about the arrest of activists, media workers and residents by HTS for criticizing its policies and that of the Salvation Government (the civil wing of HTS). Meanwhile, HTS continues to tighten the screw on residents of the areas it runs by threatening with arrest and terrifying them by force of arms urging some to say, “HTS and the regime are of the same coin.” On March 8, The public security organ of HTS arrested the media activist Mohammed Sbeh along with his wife at a checkpoint in Sarmada town north of Idlib, northwest Syria. HTS members stormed his house, confiscated all his media equipment and his mobile phone, and arrested his wife, who was released hours later, local sources told North Press then. HTS follows a gang- style policy in arresting the residents and activists not showing legal arrest warrants. HTS arrested 13 civilians and journalists during the past two months, according to human rights activists. Earlier in March, the HTS arrested the media activists Ghayath Bakir from his house in Binnish city north of Idlib on the back of a post on Facebook calling for starting new frontlines to restore areas that government has seized recently. Reporting by Nawar Sattouf |
| Posted by:badanov |