Translated article from the news portal ETHA Haber
There is no news from Ahmet Polad, a writer for Kurdistana Azad and Özgür TV program host, and international journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, who were in the city during the HTŞ-ISIS gangs’ invasion of Raqqa. Ahmed Polad occasionally sent news to our agency.
Ahmet Polad, a writer for Kurdistana Azad and a program producer for Özgür TV, and international journalist Eva Maria Michelmann were in the city during the attacks by dormant DAISH cells. The two journalists, who were in the area to follow developments, were besieged in a building along with nearly 40 civilians. There is still no news from the two journalists who sent videos to the Etha News Agency and Özgür TV. It is unknown whether Polad and Michelmann were taken prisoner or killed. Despite all efforts, no information has been obtained yet.
Ahmet Polad, who is also a member of the Free Press Union (YRA), reported on the developments he witnessed in video news reports he filmed from inside the building under heavy attack. Polad said, “ISIS sleeper cells in the city have been activated and there is heavy gunfire targeting their area.” In another video, Polad shared information that a vehicle moving towards the building they were in had been hit and those inside had been taken out injured.
According to the information we have obtained, two journalists and a large number of civilians who reached a building belonging to a youth organization affiliated with the Autonomous Administration were surrounded by gangs due to the attacks. At the same time, attacks were carried out on numerous institutional buildings in the city, intense clashes began in the city, and street executions took place in some areas. Those gathered in the building defended themselves against the gang attacks due to the threat of a possible massacre and prevented the gangs from approaching the building for a long time. In the evening, the building where civilians were located was completely surrounded by heavily armed gangs, and as darkness fell, the gangs intensified their attacks on the two-story building. The gangs first entered the lower floor and continued their attacks for a long time to kill those inside. Clashes also took place inside the building. Journalist Ahmet Polad had reported on all these developments throughout the day with various video news reports. Due to power outages and internet disruptions, communication with Polad was lost in the evening.
According to information we obtained from sources, the gangs’ demand that those inside the building come out unarmed and surrender was not accepted. By that time, dozens of people had been killed, shot, or taken prisoner by the gangs. Therefore, the resistance continued for a long time.
QSD forces also took action to rescue civilians under siege and attack. However, they were unable to reach the area. It was learned that QSD commanders contacted forces in the area and held talks for the safe evacuation of civilians trapped in the building under siege. Meanwhile, electricity and internet access were also cut off, and it was learned that contact was lost with the group, which included two journalists, after this time. After negotiations that lasted until late at night, an agreement was reached, and those inside the building left in groups according to the agreement and were taken to the area where QSD forces were located.
Some of those who left the building reached the QSD forces guarding the El Aqtan Prison near Raqqa.
Due to the lack of electricity and internet and the subsequent attack on the prison, there was no news from Polad and Michelmann for a long time. It was thought that the entire group trapped in the siege in the center of Raqqa had reached the prison. However, when telephone communication was established a few days later, it became clear that the two journalists were not among those who had reached the prison. It was thought that Polad and Michelmann might have been taken prisoner by gangs after leaving the besieged building in groups. Some members of the same group who were in the convoy that left El Aqtan Prison and reached Kobanê reported that after the groups left the building, gangs put Polad and Michelmann in a vehicle and they were never seen again.
Due to the attacks in the Deyr Hafir, Tabqa, Raqqa, and Derazor regions, hundreds of soldiers and civilians are unaccounted for. The bodies of many fighters who died defending the lands of North and East Syria remained in the areas occupied by the gangs and fell into their hands. Furthermore, it has been learned that the gangs, which are in close contact with the Turkish state, have directly handed over a large number of non-Syrian prisoners to the MIT. However, the identities of these individuals are unknown.
Contacts were established between the QSD General Command and HTŞ regarding the handover of prisoners and bodies held by the gangs, but these talks have not progressed for a long time. The names of two journalists are among those whose fate was inquired about in the QSD’s talks with HTŞ. However, the efforts have not yielded any results to date. No concrete information has been obtained as to whether Polad and Michelmann were taken captive by the gangs, handed over to the MIT, or executed by the gangs.
