A Syrian militia commander has promised to guard the last remaining Christians in the local people during a visit to the local Christian community in Ras Al-Ein within the north of the country.
Currently controlled by a coalition of Islamist militia groups, Ras Al-Ein is situated near Syria’s border with Turkey. Commander Abdulaziz Al-Sawadi, also referred to as Abou Barzan, leads the forces answerable for an area 25 miles west of the town.
According to an area resident who spoke to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a charity that champions freedom of faith and belief, Commander Abdulaziz Al-Sawadi toured the town on 22 June, telling residents that he was committed to strengthening his relationships with local communities and constructing stronger channels of communication.
As he took time on his visit to tour St Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church and the church’s library, the commander also reassured his audience that he was looking for to develop effective mechanisms for managing complaints and feuds, especially those related to property.
“We were delighted to welcome Abou Barzan and his staff to our town and church,” CSW’s local source said.
“Our relationship with them goes back to 2019 and we’ve all the time appreciated his understanding of, and respect for, the religious and ethnic diversity of our town, and his commitment to fostering a friendly relationship with the several communities, a relationship built on trust, cooperation and respect for civilians’ rights.”
The same resident also told CSW that the community had not encountered any issues related to land and property rights within the areas coming under Commander Al-Sawadi’s authority, and that landowners had continued to enjoy full control over their farms and crops. This stood in stark contrast to the areas controlled by other militias just like the Al-Moutasem and Suliman Shah Brigades, where landowners faced illegal taxes and bribes and, in some cases, had seen their land confiscated.
“We have reached out to [the brigades] several times but they’ve consistently ignored our complaints and treated us disrespectfully and threatened us,” the resident said.
CSW also spoke to a senior tribal chief, who denounced the actions of other militia commanders.
“As Sunni Arab tribes, we denounce the behaviours of militia groups resembling Al-Moutasem and Suliman Shah. They don’t represent us; they only represent themselves and their backers,” he said.
“They are worse than Assad’s officials, who were corrupt but didn’t interfere with personal and spiritual freedoms. They are warlords who betrayed the aspirations of the 2011 rebellion.”
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas commended Commander Al-Sawadi’s actions, and called on other militia forces to follow his example.
“We commend this gesture by Commander Al-Sawadi. We encourage him to proceed to exhibit commitment and respect to human rights and the protection of civil society, and call on other armed groups to follow this instance,” he said.
Mr Thomas also urged governments involved within the region to work towards peace in Syria, and be certain that the human rights of civilians caught up within the conflict were protected.
“We also call on the UK and US governments, the EU and UN to press the Syrian opposition and the Turkish government to restrain the armed groups loyal to them from committing violations, and to boost the problem of human rights, especially freedom of faith or belief and girls’s rights, in all bilateral talks,” he said.
“The Syrian opposition and the Turkish government should act immediately to finish all types of human rights abuses, a few of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, within the areas under their control.”
