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Abductions in Syria cause widespread fear

The Islamic State and the Kurdish People's Protection Units have been carrying out kidnappings in Syria, both seemingly working toward the same goal: terrorizing those who do not support them.
Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters gather with their weapons in the Assyrian village of Tel Jumaa, north of Tel Tamr town March 4, 2015. The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) have seized two towns and dozens of villages from Islamic State (IS) in an offensive that got under way on Feb. 21 in the strategically important Hasaka province that borders IS-held areas in Iraq. Picture taken March 4, 2015. REUTERS/Rodi Said (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR4S816

Syrians continue to go missing at the hands of the armed groups that have taken control over some parts of Syrian territory. The objective of the Islamic State (IS) is to intimidate the Syrian community, with abduction as its main tool of terror.

Shaha Mohammed lost her son, Aker, 17, during the attack on the city of Kobani. Aker had joined the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to defend Kobani. She told Al-Monitor, “It’s been a while since we have heard something about him. We have not been able to communicate with him, although all his friends have communicated with their families. We just want to know what has happened to him. Had he lost his life, we would have known. We have not heard from him and we have been experiencing significant emotional suffering. We will do anything to get any news about him. He is my eldest son.”

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