World, Middle East

YPG/PKK tortures to death man kidnapped for ransom

Terror group kills young Raqqah man after family fails to pay ransom, say local sources

Mohamad Misto and Ethem Emre Ozcan  | 22.07.2020 - Update : 22.07.2020
YPG/PKK tortures to death man kidnapped for ransom

ANKARA

The YPG/PKK terror group killed a young man whom they were holding for ransom while torturing him in areas under their occupation in northern Syria.

According to information obtained from local sources, the terrorists held Azaba Aziz as-Shallash against his will in the Tabka district of Raqqah province for supposed involvement in terrorist groups.

After keeping as-Shallash in Tabka for a week, the terrorists took him to al-Kasra prison in Deir ez-Zor province.

When the 26-year-old's destitute family could not pay the large sum the YPG/PKK demanded for his release, he was tortured to death.

The YPG/PKK terrorists returned the body to as-Shallash's family earlier in the week without telling them his cause of death.

There were marks of aggravated torture on his body.

As-Shallash and his family came to Tabka two years ago to escape clashes in Deir ez-Zor.

Kidnapping record

YPG/PKK terrorists often capture and imprison young people to forcibly recruit them in areas they occupy in Syria. The group also detains civilians on trumped-up accusations to silence opponents or demand ransom.

Last week, the terror group raided settlements in Deir ez-Zor to silence dissent, detaining dozens of civilians in a so-called "fight against terrorism."

In the first week of July, the YPG/PKK forcibly recruited 400 young people in the northeastern Hasakah province.

In the last two months, they have focused on kidnapping children, snatching at least four, including two girls.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.

*Writing by Sena Guler

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