Agreement between People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Operations Room 'Libtik ya Ukhtah' on status of Sheikh Maqsoud

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Agreement between People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Operations Room 'Libtik ya Ukhtah' on status of Sheikh Maqsoud
  • Date
    3 May 2015
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    These terms are the terms which were agreed on between the Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Ukhtah” and Wahadat Himayya al-Sha’ab [The People’s Protection Unit (YPG)].
  • Third parties
    - Tajam Fastaqim Kama Umirt [The Fastaqim Kama Umirt Union]
    - Farqa 16 [Brigade 16]
  • Description
    Agreement between YPG and opposition faction 'Libtik ya Ukhtah' to extradite offender to Shari'ah court; prisoner release, and a prohibition on harassment of women.


Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    -> Local issues only; external support mechanism; culture of signing A formally-established mechanism apparently supported the negotiation between the signing groups, as the negotiation was mediated by two third parties. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Yet, it seems that both signing parties (especially the YPG) choose to solve the conflicts related to their armed struggle through agreements.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. First, the agreement does not involve local governance actors; and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Second, all parties to the agreement reject the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power.
  • Name of Locale
    Sheikh Maqsud
  • Nature Of Locale
    Smaller
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    36.233387, 37.150269
  • Participant type
    Local armed group
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    Tajam Fastaqim Kama Umirt and Farqa 16
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Local armed group

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
    Page 1, In the name of Allah the Merciful
  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists six provisions to address local grievances. It seems that the confrontation between the Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Ukhtah” and the People’s Protection Unit in the area of Sheikh Maqsud lies at the centre of the dispute.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.


In the name of Allah the Merciful

These terms are the terms which were agreed on between the Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Ukhtah” and Wahadat Himayya al-Sha’ab [The People’s Protection Unit (YPG)].

1. The offenders will hand over their weapons to the Sharia Committee in the Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Uktah” in addition to the evil of the two mediators:

- Tajam Fastaqim Kama Umirt [The Fastaqim Kama Umirt Union]

- Farqa 16 [Brigade 16]

With Wahadat Himayya al-Sha’ab YPG represented during the investigation and the trial, it was agreed that the headquarters of the Sharia Committee will be the headquarters of al-Shubha al- Shamiyya in Sheikh Maqsud.

Surrender the people that admitted to Anas Jarkas to the shooting to the same commission [Shari'ah Board] to investigate the facts and pursue those that fired on the buildings of al-Kastlu and Rahba.

The Eastern connecting checkpoints of Sheikh Maqsud will be isolated from the Western ones.

Sheikh Maqsud is one of the liberated neighbourhoods of Aleppo and the same applies to it as applies to the neighbourhoods of Aleppo that share the same status.

It is not self- governed.

The harassment of women is forbidden, and this applies to all factions inside the neighbourhood, as in any other neighbourhood in liberated Aleppo.

It has been agreed that all prisons in all areas will be ‘whitened’.

The shared factions in Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Ukhtah” pledge to follow up all detained Kurdish prisoners in factions and ensure their safe departure

- Note:

- The implementation of the terms will take effect from Monday 16 Rajab 1436, corresponding to 4/5/2015.

- The ‘whitening’ [emptying] of the prisons will take effect from the same date for a period of maximum 5 days.

Ghurfa ‘Amliat “Libik Ya Ukhtah” The President of the Office of Security Relations of Wahadat Himayya al-Sha’ab YPG

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