On December 1, 2024, a Kurdish civilian from a village in the Sheikh al-Hadid (Shiye) district of Afrin, northern Syria, was abducted by factions of the Turkish-backed Joint Force and detained for 42 days in the Maratah prison run by the “Hamzat” faction, under the supervision of Turkish intelligence.
The victim, a father of three in his forties, was subjected—according to medical sources and his own earlier testimony to the media—to severe and systematic torture during his detention. He was forced to stand on a heated metal surface, causing third-degree burns and the peeling of the skin from his feet. Nine of his toes were partially or completely severed using a saw. He also received more than 180 lashes with a whip, which resulted in four broken teeth, torn lips, and extensive bruising. In addition, he was denied access to the medication necessary for his pre-existing neurological condition.
He was released after being left in critical condition outside Afrin Military Hospital, from which he was later transferred to Aleppo for treatment.
Recent medical assessments indicate that his health has drastically deteriorated: he suffers from severe emaciation and immobility, with permanent nerve damage in his feet described as “dead.” He has also developed acute psychological disorders that have left him unable to recognize his surroundings or speak coherently, with his responses limited to intermittent moaning and episodes of fear and trembling.
According to sources, the torture was carried out in connection with accusations that he had been “collaborating with the Autonomous Administration,” a charge frequently used against Kurdish civilians.
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