Turkish-backed factions desecrate Yazidi graves in North and East Syria in search of gold

RISH AYNO (RAS AL-AYN ), Syria – In a clear violation of the sanctity of the dead and explicit disregard for human rights, the Turkish-backed factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) continue their violations in northern Syria, exhuming the graves of Yazidis in search of gold.

The Turkish and SNA forces occupying Tel Abyad, Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn), and the surrounding countryside continue to loot and plunder the areas under their control, not only subjecting the living to the theft of material and dignity but robbing the dead of their possessions as well.

Local sources from inside Rish Ayno confirmed to Hawar News Agency that SNA factions had recently vandalized graves in the Yazidi villages in the Rish Ayno countryside, believing that gold was buried with the bodies. It is often believed that the Yazidis bury their dead adorned with gold, though no such custom exists.

The same sources confirmed that in search of gold and valuables, the Turkish-backed factions exhumed graves in the Yazidi village of Jan Tamr outside Rish Ayno.

The Turkish-backed SNA have committed many crimes against the local citizens throughout the occupation of North Syria, including against Syriac-Assyrians, Kurds, Yazidis, and Arabs deemed to have cooperated with the previous local administration. Displaced from their homes, the people of Tel Abyad and Rish Ayno have had their crops and agricultural equipment stolen and their homes occupied by settlers.