U.N. Syria Inquiry details systemic abuses committed by Turkish proxies in occupied Syria

RISH AYNO, Syria — In its most recent report, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (IICIS) of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) outlined widespread human rights violations in Turkish-occupied territories of Syria.

The report relied primarily on 538 interviews conducted in person in the region and from Geneva and   documents, reports, photos, videos, and satellite images collected and analyzed from multiple sources.

The IICIS report stated that civilians in Cafrin (Afrin) and Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn) suffered from increasing levels of violence, including numerous car bombs, murders, beatings, torture, and property damage.

The report detailed at least 59 incidents with approximately 641 victims using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Cafrin and Rish Ayno.

Women previously held captive by Turkish-backed groups said during interviews that they were subjected to multiple rapes, beatings, and torture and were regularly deprived of food.

The Commission confirmed that during interrogations by Turkish-backed groups, others had been threatened with rape, torture, and solitary confinement.

There has been little international media and government attention to the systemic abuses committed by Turkish-backed groups in occupied areas of Syria.