February 2021
Five women were allegedly kidnapped in Afrin in February 2021. None were reported to have been released. Armed actors reported to be responsible for kidnappings of women in Afrin this month include the Military Police, the Civil Police, and Turkish security personnel.
January 2021
Three women and one girl were reported to have been kidnapped during the month of January. One was reportedly released, while the whereabouts of three remain unknown. Armed groups known to be responsible for kidnappings this month are Ahrar al Sharqiyah and Sultan Suleiman Shah.
2020 Report
88 women and girls whose identities are known were reportedly kidnapped by Turkish-backed armed groups in Afrin, Syria in 2020, a rate of approximately one incident every four days.
December 2020
Eight women and two girls were allegedly kidnapped in occupied Afrin in the month of December. Seven of these individuals remain missing, two were reported to have been released, and one has reportedly been murdered. Three were reported to belong to religious minority communities. Armed groups implicated in kidnappings this month were Ahrar al Sharqiyah,…
November 2020
11 women were reported to have been kidnapped in occupied Afrin in November. One has allegedly been released, while 10 others remain missing. Armed groups claimed to be responsible for kidnappings during this month included the Military Police, Ahrar al Sharqiyah, and Ahrar al Sham.
International Day of the Girl: girls in Afrin not spared violence
Girls in occupied Afrin face abductions and enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as pervasive gender discrimination.
September 2020: Seven women reported kidnapped, one released
Seven women were reported to have been kidnapped by armed groups in occupied Afrin in September. Only one has allegedly been released.
August 2020: 11 women reported kidnapped
11 women were reported to have been kidnapped by armed groups in occupied Afrin in the month of August, the highest number of cases reported in any month this year. Five have allegedly been released, while the whereabouts of six are unknown.
July 2020: Five women reported kidnapped, violence increasing
Five women were reported to have been kidnapped by armed groups in occupied Afrin in the month of July. One was allegedly released.