In the context of escalating violations related to cultural freedoms and Kurdish rights in northern Syria, Syrian General Security personnel have arrested Kurdish citizen Haider Hassan Haider Abbas (40 years old). Originally from the village of Ta’ana in the Al-Bab countryside, northern Aleppo, Mr. Abbas was detained following his participation in Newroz celebrations and for raising the Kurdish flag.
According to local sources, the arrest took place on the afternoon of Thursday, April 2, 2026, in the town of Akhtarin, located in the Azaz district of northern rural Aleppo. General Security personnel intercepted the aforementioned citizen and transported him to one of their headquarters within the town.
Sources reported that the grounds for the arrest stem from the detainee’s participation in Newroz celebrations on March 21, 2026. Security authorities deemed this participation a basis for taking measures against him, amidst ongoing restrictions imposed on Kurdish cultural and symbolic expressions in the region.
As of the time of writing this report, Haider Hassan Haider Abbas remains under arbitrary detention. No official clarifications have been issued regarding the charges brought against him or his legal status, raising serious concerns regarding the respect for fair trial guarantees and the rights of detainees.
This incident occurs within a series of violations documented in the northern Aleppo countryside and the city of Afrin on March 21, 2026. These violations targeted Kurdish citizens and included physical assaults, the burning of Kurdish flags, and the suppression of Newroz festivities, amid an escalation in nationalist-driven incitement and threats.
These developments reflect a state of increasing tension and fear among the local population, occurring alongside repeated calls from human rights organizations to cease such violations and ensure respect for the cultural and civil rights of all ethnic components.
