A 26-year-old Kurdish soldier in the Syrian army was brutally killed after being abducted in the Hesekê (Hasaka) area. The victim was Samî Şêxmûs Hiso, a member of the Hesekê Brigade, who was known by the name Sîpan Hiznî.
According to security sources and the Rûdaw correspondent in Rojava, Hiso, who lived in the Mufti neighborhood of Hesekê, was abducted by armed, as-yet-unidentified individuals. The perpetrators reportedly took him to the road leading toward Dêrazor (Deir ez-Zor). There, he was allegedly killed with a sharp object. The perpetrators then reportedly shot his lifeless body.
The perpetrators are said to have filmed the crime and subsequently distributed the footage. The identities and political or social affiliations of those responsible are currently the subject of an investigation. According to the information available, members of the Arab Al-Baggara tribe are alleged to have been involved in the crime. Several suspects have reportedly been arrested. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing.
Protests in Several Cities
The abduction and murder of Sîpan Hiznî has sparked widespread protests across northeastern Syria. Large numbers of people took to the streets in Qamişlo (Qamishli), Çilaxa, Girkê Legê, Hesekê, Tirbespiyê, Dêrik, and Dirbêsiyê. Thousands participated in a demonstration in Qamişlo alone.
The demonstrators called for a full investigation into the murder and for all those responsible to be prosecuted. At the same time, warnings were issued against exploiting the murder to fuel political or social tensions between the region’s different communities.
The appeals were particularly aimed at preventing an escalation between the Kurdish and Arab populations. The case has therefore acquired a high degree of social and political sensitivity beyond the investigation of an individual violent crime.
Family Calls for Investigation
Following the murder, one of the victim’s brothers called on the authorities in Rojava as well as the Syrian authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators as quickly as possible and bring them to justice. The family stressed that such a brutal murder must not go unpunished.
The investigation is now expected to determine who was responsible for the abduction and killing and what motive lay behind the crime. The arrests already made could provide further information about the course of events and the background to the crime.
Family Tragedy
Samî Şêxmûs Hiso served in the Hesekê Brigade of the Syrian army. His family had already suffered severe losses: His two older brothers, Hüseyin and Sipan, were killed while fighting against the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIS).
After the death of his brother Sipan, Samî adopted his brother’s name as a nom de guerre. His parents have since passed away. He leaves behind five sisters and seven brothers.
Growing Tensions Since the Offensive
Since the offensive in January against the Autonomous Administration and the subsequent launch of the so-called “integration phase,” reports of attacks on Kurdish achievements and rights, as well as on Kurds themselves, have increased.
Boycott actions are currently taking place in various parts of the region. One of the issues behind them is the planned downgrading of the Kurdish language in the education system: Kurdish is reportedly to be offered only as an elective subject, with a maximum of four hours per week.
The return of Kurdish refugees to areas they formerly inhabited is also causing tensions. In Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ain), Kurdish returnees were reportedly attacked just a few weeks ago by Islamist and chauvinist forces. They were also allegedly denied access to their property.
“Integration Process”?
These developments are fueling concerns that the political processes initiated in Damascus since the change of power is not leading to equal coexistence among all communities. In particular, there are considerable concerns regarding the future of Kurds and other ethnic and religious communities under the rule of Ahmad al-Sharaa, especially with regard to their political, cultural, and social rights.
We strongly condemn the abhorrent murder of Samî Şêxmûs Hiso (Sîpan Hiznî) and extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and loved ones.
