KURDWATCH, July 28, 2012—Supporters of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in ʿAfrin have taken over parts of the administration from Syrian state workers. For the past week or so the party has controlled the water and electricity supply as well as the health centers in rural areas. An activist who wanted to raise a Kurdish flag in front of a school was prevented from doing so by the PYD: He was threatened with violence should he try this again. Generally the PYD does not tolerate any Kurdish flags in ʿAfrin.