UN: Turkey-backed militants commit war crimes in Syria

03.03.2020, New York.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria accused the Turkey-backed “Syrian National Army” of committing war crimes in its report published on March 2, the Kurdistan 24 news agency reported.

Among the crimes committed by the militants are murders, pillages and attacks on women in areas controlled by Turkey.

The commission concluded that “there are reasonable grounds to believe” that Turkish-backed groups “committed the war crimes of hostage-taking, cruel treatment, ill-treatment and torture“.

“If any armed group members were shown to be acting under the effective command and control of Turkish forces, these violations may entail criminal responsibility for such commanders “, the report states.

The commission documented cases of detention, murders, beating, abduction, large-scale pillages and appropriation of civilian homes by Turkish-backed groups in the towns of Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ayn.

These violations instilled fear among Kurdish residents and caused further displacement“, the report states.

Schools and businesses, such as bakeries, were also looted or expropriated, along with land for making olive oil, agricultural tools and vehicles,” the UN said.

Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency

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