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"Abu Amsha" Continues His Violations Against Civilians... Assaults Residents in Rural Afrin
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Mohammed Jassem continues to lead operations of looting, extortion, and arbitrary detention since 2018, making him one of the most wanted for justice in war crimes
Local residents reported that Mohammed Jassem, known as "Abu Amsha," leader of the Suleiman Shah faction (Al-Amshat) and current head of Division 25 in the new Syrian Army, physically assaulted, brandished his weapon, and opened fire on civilian citizens in Kaniya "Al-Nabe" square in Sheikh Hadid - Şiyê district near Afrin.
According to circulating accounts, "Abu Amsha's" attack on civilians came in response to some residents recently raising victory signs when they saw the public security convoy entering the district center, which provoked "Abu Amsha" and prompted him to return today to Sheikh Hadid district and carry out his revenge on civilian residents through physical assault and gunfire.
Citizen Ahmed Suleiman Sheikho, nicknamed son of the Kafno family, was violently attacked personally by "Abu Amsha" and his escorts during today's incident, amid escalating public anger in the region.
"Abu Amsha" has a bloody record of violations since the Turkish army occupied the Afrin region in March 2018, where he personally supervised systematic torture operations in his detention centers, leading to dozens of deaths under torture.
Mohammed Jassem managed an organized network of financial extortion, kidnapping hundreds of civilians and demanding huge ransoms from their families, and also issued direct orders to seize olive crops and agricultural lands in the region, making profits estimated at millions of dollars annually.
"Abu Amsha" also led forced displacement campaigns targeting the original inhabitants, issuing instructions to expel families from their homes and house his loyalists in them, and imposed a system of royalties on owners of commercial and industrial shops, reaching 60% of their profits.
Mohammed Jassem used his military authority to control border crossings and impose illegal fees on goods and foodstuffs entering the region, causing price increases and deterioration of the living conditions of residents.
Additionally, he launched arrest campaigns against anyone who violated his instructions, and destruction affected historical and cultural landmarks in the area under his faction's control, including archaeological sites and religious shrines.
"Abu Amsha" appeared yesterday in the city of Hama, where he participated in an official celebration on the occasion of the annual anniversary of the Syrian "revolution," which reflects the stark contradiction between public discourse and criminal practices on the ground.
These ongoing violations by Mohammed Jassem confirm the necessity of adopting a constitution that prevents military leaders from monopolizing power and ensures accountability, away from the centralized governance model that was applied by the previous regime headed by Bashar al-Assad, which allowed the concentration of power in the hands of a limited group.
