On February 11, hundreds of people gathered near the towns of Atimah and Deir Hassan in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib to protest against the brutality of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The protests were named after Fatima al-Hamid, a 28-year old mother of four who was shot in the head by HTS security forces a day earlier simply for trying to smuggle a few liters of fuel into Greater Idlib from the Turkish-occupied area of Afrin.

“Our blood is not a scapegoat to gain the grace of the US,” one the banners raised by the protesters reads.

Ironically, HTS security forces opened fire at the protesters near Atimah and Deir Hassan forcing them to flee. Several casualties were reported.

The shooting of Fatima led to a backlash in Greater Idlib against HTS. The terrorist group opened an investigation in the incident. Nevertheless, it openly blamed the victim, who was just trying to make some money to buy bread for her children.

A week earlier, hundreds of people took to the streets in different parts of Greater Idlib to call on HTS to stop arbitrary arrests, end torture and release innocent prisoners.

Despite being widely hated and criticized by people in Greater Idlib, HTS continues to rule over the region with an iron fist. Turkish forces in the region have been doing nothing whatsoever to challenge the terrorist group’s rule.

Source: South Front