KURDWATCH, June 11, 2012—The Democratic Union Party (PYD) has established a court in ʿAfrin. The court will try primarily independent activists and other activists critical of the PYD. The chairman of the court is Husam Hirkuki, an Arab ʿAlawi, who, according to activists, maintains close ties to the intelligence service. Additional (Kurdish) members are Mustafa Hamsuru, Iso Toto, ʿUmar Barazi, and Husain Biro. Comparable courts exist in al‑Qamishli, ʿAmudah, ʿAyn al‑ʿArab (Kobanî), ad‑Darbasiyah and al‑Malikiyah.