Kurdish separatists launch plan of new tax system in northern Syria

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:30 P.M.) – Officials in the Rojava administration (Syrian Kurdistan) say they intend to impose income tax upon civilians living under Kurdish rule in Hasakah province to fund public institutions and services in northeastern Syria.

According to a report by a local Kurdish outlet, residents earning up to 100,000 Syrian Pounds (roughly 200 dollars) a month will be taxed by Rojava, a self-proclaimed Kurdish state that spans across much of northern Syria.

The tax revenue is supposed to fund health and education services, but will likely fund the Asayish (Kurdish police) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well. The new implementation is not expected to go down well in the central government of Damascus.

According to a Kurdish refugee from Qamishli speaking to Al-Masdar News correspondent Chris Tomson, the YPG – the main contingent of the SDF – previously funded its operations by extorting businesses across the Hasakah governorate in return for guaranteed protection.

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) still controls territory in the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli although government troops are fully surrounded by the SDF. A ceasefire is currently in place although tensions remain high across the governorate.