Protest on October 21, 2025, in al-Tabqah Camp, Northern Syria, Condemning the Theft of the Olive Harvest and the Arrest of Farmers in Afrin Source: Social Media
Arbitrary Arrest of a Kurdish Citizen and His Child in Afrin Countryside After Defending Their Olive Crop
Incident Summary:
On the night of Sunday, October 19, 2025, elements of the “General Security” forces affiliated with the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (commonly known as al-Amshat) carried out an arbitrary arrest in Afrin countryside, northern Syria.
The Kurdish citizen Hussein Khelo and his 13-year-old son Mustafa Hussein Khelo were arrested after defending their olive harvest from theft by members of the same faction.
The incident represents a blatant violation of basic rights and an act of discrimination targeting indigenous civilians.
Incident Details and Key Information:
Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025
Time: Between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.
Location: Olive grove in Anqaleh village, Sheikh al-Hadid (Shiyeh) subdistrict, Afrin countryside, northwest Aleppo, Syria
Victims / Detainees:
First Victim: Hussein Khelo (male, in his 40s)
Second Victim: Mustafa Hussein Khelo (male, 13 years old, his son)
Background: Kurdish, indigenous residents of Anqaleh village
Perpetrating Entity (Arrest):
General Security forces affiliated with the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (“al-Amshat”)
Perpetrating Entity (Theft and Assault):
Armed looters from the same Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (“al-Amshat”)
Background According to Local and Human Rights Sources:
Hussein Khelo was guarding his family’s olive grove.
He witnessed a group of thieves — members of al-Amshat — stealing the olive harvest.
The thieves opened fire at Hussein with a Kalashnikov rifle.
Hussein responded in self-defense using a hunting rifle, reportedly injuring one of the thieves lightly.
A patrol from General Security (of the same faction) later arrived and found clear evidence of theft at the scene — including an olive-picking machine and four sacks of stolen olives.
Instead of pursuing the thieves, the patrol arrested Hussein Khelo and his child Mustafa.
Both remain under arbitrary detention, underscoring the retaliatory and discriminatory nature of the incident.
