The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) documented the death of a civilian and the injury of 13 others, including a woman, under torture by Turkish gendarmerie (military police) on two occasions in the month of January. According to the observatory, the affected civilians were attempting to cross into Turkish territory from areas in the North-East Syria region, from the Heseke countryside and near Kobani.

SOHR listed the details of the two separate incidents on January 13 as follows:

Turkish gendarmerie (Jandarma) brutally beat two Syrian civilians near the border strip between Syria and Turkey, while they were attempting to cross into Syrian territory from Kobani countryside. The brutal torture led to the death of one of the two civilians, who came from Hama city and lived in Raqqa city, while the other civilian sustained serious injuries.

Members of the Turkish gendarmerie assaulted a group of Syrian civilians while attempting to cross into Syrian territory from Serekaniye countryside in the “Peace Spring” area in north-western Heseke, with the help of smugglers. According to SOHR sources, 12 people, including women and children, attempted to cross into Turkey, with the help of smugglers affiliated with Turkish-backed factions, but they were arrested and brutally beaten by Turkish gendarmerie. The civilians included a pregnant woman who sustained serious injuries and lost her baby. The woman was taken to a hospital in Serekaniye city, and her health condition is still critical.

Title Photo: SOHR