Members of the General Security forces (Internal Security Forces) affiliated with the Ministry of Interior of the Syrian Interim Government arrested five Kurdish youths in the village of Kamrouk, administratively affiliated with the Mabata subdistrict in the countryside of Afrin, northern Syria, on the grounds that they had raised the Kurdish national flag. This incident falls within the broader context of restrictions imposed on manifestations of Kurdish identity in the region.
According to available information, the arrests took place on Sunday, 1 March 2026, when security forces detained the five young men, all residents of the village of Kamrouk. They are:
Mustafa Rashid Mohammad.
Farhad Sheikh Ali.
Diyar Mohammad Hamo.
Adnan Ahmad Shoto.
Adnan Hamoush.
Sources reported that the arrests were carried out on the basis that the youths had raised the Kurdish national flag. They were subsequently released after being informed of a decision prohibiting the raising of Kurdish flags or the holding of celebrations involving the display of such flags. This occurred at a time coinciding with the approaching celebration of Nowruz, which constitutes a national occasion for the Kurdish people.
It is noteworthy that the Afrin region has, since 2018, witnessed a series of violations against the Kurdish population, including restrictions on freedom of expression and cultural identity, in addition to stringent security measures affecting a number of civilians during occasions related to national identity. These developments raise concerns regarding respect for fundamental rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under international human rights instruments.
