Afrin women condemn Turkish occupation violations
Displaced women from Afrin have condemned the crimes and violations their occupied city has endured for over seven years, describing them as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and human rights charters.
Women from Afrin, forcibly displaced due to the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries since 2018, issued a statement delivered by administrative official Arifa Habash on their behalf. The statement was presented during an event held at the Euphrates Basin building in Raqqa, attended by dozens of displaced people from Afrin and Al-Shahba, alongside members of the Afrin and Al-Shahba Councils and the Kongra Star.
The statement affirmed that mercenary groups affiliated with the Turkish occupation have committed and continue to commit systematic crimes against unarmed civilians in Afrin, Al-Shahba, and other occupied areas. It highlighted violations including daily raids, arbitrary arrests, and kidnappings for ransom, with dozens of documented cases.
The statement shed light on a recent horrific crime, stating: “The crime that claimed the life of young Mustafa Jamil Sheikho, who was directly shot while guarding solar panels in his village of Haj Hassano in the Jindires subdistrict, is a continuation of crimes against humanity and a blatant violation of the basic principles of international protection for children and human rights.”
The women expressed their strong condemnation and outrage over this crime and issued an urgent appeal to the Syrian Transitional Government, the United Nations, UNICEF, and Amnesty International, urging these entities to fulfill their international and humanitarian responsibilities. They called for immediate action to expel mercenaries from Afrin and all occupied areas and to put an end to ongoing crimes.
The statement warned that the persistence of these crimes amid a lack of justice and accountability threatens to erode trust in international institutions and fosters a climate of impunity.
The statement concluded with several demands, including placing Afrin under international protection, ensuring the safe return of displaced people to their homes under international supervision, and taking urgent action to stop Turkish threats to international peace and security.
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ANHA
