Learn about al-Shahba canton…

SHERVIN MUSTAFA-JAFER JAFO / AL-SHAHBA

To learn more about al-Shahba's geography, location and strategic importance, economy, social status and women, al-Shahba canton, including the occupied part by the Turkish occupation army, we prepared the following dossier.

Location and name of al-Shahba

Al-Shahba canton is known for its geographical area of ​​more than 5000 Km2, with a length of more than 95 km and a depth of 55 km from the banks of the Euphrates River and up to the Lilon Mountains in the west. It includes cities such as Jarablus(Qer Qamish), al-Bab, in addition to al-Sifira area.

The name of al- Shahba comes from "şah ba" meaning "the fresh air ", due to its mild climate and plains, and its fresh, according to researchers, the name is dating back to 2400 BC.

Al-Shahba is a link between the Mesopotamian civilization and the West, the main gate and the fertile coastline of the Taurus Mountains and the coastal mountains of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the only base to start deep into Syria as the knot transport and the only land road to transit to Europe.

Al-Shahba canton has five cities and about 600 villages, ranging in size from large and small.

An overview of al-Shahba

Jarablus area: consists of Jarablus city and hundreds of Arab and Kurdish villages. It lies 125 km north-east of Aleppo on the banks of the Euphrates River. It is bounded to the west by Azaz and to the north by Manbij, according to the statistics in 2004, the population of the area was about 90 thousand people, and the majority of the population are of Kurds and Arabs.

The city was named in the Hittite era 5000 years ago as "Karkemish", a cradle of human civilization, many archaeologists have conducted studies and excavations around it.

Manbij area: It consists of Manbij city and hundreds of Kurdish and Arab villages. It is one of the oldest historical cities in the northern Aleppo countryside. It is 75 kilometers from Aleppo city, with a population of 480,000 according to 2004 statistics

Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen components have been inhabiting Manbijfor hundreds of years.

Al-Bab area: consists of al-Bab city and hundreds of villages and towns and Kurdish and Arab districts such as "Tadef and Deir Hafer and al-Rai," and is considered one of the oldest historical cities belonging to al-Shaba, dating back to the Roman era, one of the first cities that organized demonstrations against the Syrian regime on April 8 -2011. The city is located northeast of Aleppo, 38 km away.

Its population is estimated of 400 thousand people according to statistics in 2008, and also it forms a model for the coexistence of components of the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens and Armenians.

Al-Sifira area: consists of al-Sefira city, and hundreds of Arab and Kurdish villages and towns, such as Tel Hasel and Tel Aran, with a population of more than 178,000 according to 2008 statistics

 Al-Sifira is a "Syriac" word means "the beautiful" and is full of orchards and rivers. It still has traces of ancient irrigation channels and water-gathering places so It is called "korat" which is a Syriac word means " the pool of cold water."

Azaz area: consists of Azaz town, and hundreds of Kurdish and Arab villages such as Akhrarin, Dodian, Tel Refat and Mara, with a population of more than 250,000. According to sources, the construction of the city dates back to the Mitani era, and it belongs to the culture of Beit Agushi and Ras Shamra.)

Azaz's name has undergone changes and came from the demographic developments. It became known as "Izaz" meaning " the strong". Its name "Azazu" means ( the dear)  and "Azazu" dates back to the Mitani era.

The geopolitical and strategic importance of al-Shahba canton

Al-Shahba is characterized by its great strategic importance, and many regional and international countries are trying to reach it to implement its agendas through it, especially the occuping Turkish state.

Shahba canton is a small example of the culture of Syrian society. Foreign powers try to put it under their control. These countries are pursuing policies that are described by many as "dirty" to control Syria's goods..

It is a land road to Europe and is the main gateway to the fertile coastal plain of the Taurus Mountains and the coastal mountains of the Mediterranean Sea.

Thus, the Turkish occupation state used al-Shahba to travel to the Syrian depth, send its mercenaries and agendas, as well as logistical support and military equipment to its mercenaries gangs.

The components which are existed in the area

In al- Shahba canton, there is a fabric of elements and sects such as Kurds, Arabs, Circassians, Armenians and Turkmens, as well as urbanites from European roots. There are also a few Assyrians, Syriacs, Chaldeans and Arnauts.

There are also members of the Yazidi community living in the villages of al-Shahba. They live in villages located on the border between Azaz and Afrin, such as Qustal Jendu, and there are sects such as Sunnis, Shiites, Christians, Druze, Jews, Alawites and Ismailis.

The Kurdish component resides in 200 villages, and sources say that the number of Kurds was 460 thousand people before the policy of demographic change, but now sources confirm that the number is 270 thousand people, in addition to the Turkmen component is located in 7 villages and estimated at 14 thousand people, Arab population accounted for 45% of the population in al-Shahba canton.

Ancient sites and archaeological sites in the area

Al-Shahbaa is characterized by its archaeological sites, popular markets, ancient sites, historical mosques and old buildings, in addition to scattered underground channels that date back to the Roman era and through which the Gold River was passing.

As al-Shahba is known for the abundance of ancient archaeological and historical hills dating back to the pre-Christmas period (Tel Aran , Tal Hasel , Tal Doina , Tal Ahmer , Tal Habbo , Tal Lihman , Kola Jbouli and Tal Koum Pinar, in addition to many other hills.

The economy

Al-Shahba is characterized by the existence of many economic elements that are the mainstay of the economy in Aleppo throughout history, where there are underground resources, according to references, and is a reservoir of water, for the possession of rivers such as the Euphrates River and the Quaiq River and the Sajour River, in addition to the rich  soil and suitable for agriculture.

It can also grow many kinds of cereals and pulses, such as wheat, barley and lentils, as well as vegetables produced in large quantities. Its inhabitants work in agriculture, livestock, pet, construction, industry and trade.

Since 1516 the scheme of demographic change is taking place in al-Shahba

Demographic change began in Syria since 1516 after its occupation by the Ottoman Empire. The occupation subjected al- Shahba to a demographic change due to its richness in all aspects and areas of life, to be supplemented by the Baathist regime in the policy of Arabization.

On 2013 the Turkish occupation repeated

 its aggressive policies against the components and peoples of northern Syria, specially, the Kurdish people, by committing the first massacre against the people of Tel Aran and Tal Hasel of Al-Sefira area, through its mercenaries from Jabhat al-Nusra and Liwa al-Tewhid.

The Turkish occupation practiced the arbitrary approach in different ways and the policy of changing the distinctive and special demographics by integrating groups that have no cultural, social or historical links in attempts to restore the dreams of the Ottoman Empire.

The occupied areas

The Turkish occupation state directly occupied the cities of al-Shahba starting in August 2016 from Jarablos city, after being covered by mercenaries, supported by Turkey since its inception in Syria, and then incursion of the Turkish occupation in the region and spreading in, Qebasin , Akhtarin , al-Rai, and Azaz, bringing the occupation area to  ​​2000 Km2.

The Turkish occupation manipulating the mercenary gangs in the region, they would move according to Turkish interests, the gangs are: "Ferqet al-Hamza, Fileq al-Sham, al- Sultan Murad, Ahrar al-Sham Movement, Norddin Zanki Movement, Jaish al-Tahrir, Seqour al-Jabel, al-Jabha al-Shamiya, Fileq al-Sham and many of the mercenaries factions.

It is noteworthy, the areas Turkey occupied had been occupied by IS mercenaries, where neither clashes nor fight were reported, as it was a matter of "deliver and receive," according to the processes that were in sight.

The developments

Al-Shahba has achieved specific leap in the history of the region, through the exit from the shell of the Ottoman Sultanate and the Baathist regime for a long time, by following the policy of Arabization and Turkifacation on the people of the region.

The Syrian regime worked to create racism and sedition among the components of the region by evacuating the region from its original inhabitants, especially the Kurdish component, and to bring tribes from Aleppo, Idlib and al-Jazeera to the region, where the region experienced a large emigration rate, except for those who were expelled by the Baathist regime to Lebanon and the European countries, while the Kurds went to Kobanî and Afrin.

Under the control of IS mercenaries the cities and towns of al-Shahba during 2013-2015, they practiced various methods of torture and injustice against people, then thousands of people displaced from the region to Afrin and Kobanî. The camps of Shahba and Robar were opened in Afrin for receiving them.

The residents of al-Shaba  were cooperated with the Autonomous Administration in Afrin, after the good treatment they had received. In Afrin, they formed al-Bab Area Council to manage the people, where they decided to organize themselves.

Formation of al-Shahba Administration Council

Afterwards, al-Shahba Administration Council was formed on 24 March 2015 during its Constituent Conference held in Afrin canton instead of al-Bab area Council, and the council continues to follow the status of the area remotely, because the region was occupied by IS mercenaries and the mercenaries of the Turkish occupation army.

However, in early 2016, the people revolted and launched a campaign to liberate the villages, towns and cities of al-Shahba. After several months of fighting, the factions liberated Tal Rifat, Kafr Naya, Minag and its military airport, Kafr Naseh, Deir Jamal, Ahras Ain Deqna, Beiluniya, Sheikh Hilal, Kafr Anton, al-Shehabiya and Tel Ajar, as well as dozens of other villages.

After the liberation of part of al- Shahba, the council moved to work in the area immediately, and opened a center in Ahres village, and during a period ,the council formed the local councils in the liberated areas.

The council formed areas and affiliated villages to it in the form of " ​​Tal Rifat district, Kafr Naya district, ​​Ahras district, Em Hosh, and ​​Fafin district."

The Senate and the Sheikhs Council

The Senate and the Sheikhs Council were formed during a conference on January 28, 2016, attended by a large number of tribal dignitaries and components from the regions of Jarablos, Mara, Azaz, Manbij, al-Bab, Tal Rifat, al-Sifira and Mount Semaan, 28 members of the council were appointed.

Feminist movement

The women of al-Shahba were no different from the situation of women in general, through the marginalization of society in all respects. The women of al-Shahba suffered from slavery and deprivation from achieving their life goals and exercising their rights to live, education and administration until women gathered their strength and decided to remove the bond of slavery from themselves. A historic leap through the formation of the first military force for them under the name of "Al-Shaba's Women Protection Front" after the practices of IS mercenaries and the Turkish occupation and others.

After the formation of the military power of women, the rest of the women took power from them, and two bold steps through the formation of civic councils for them, called the al-Shaba's Free Women Union, and elected three administrators for the Union and 25 members.

The women of al-Shahba continue to struggle the male mentality in society and are active in all fields and committees and councils of al- Shahba canton.

Al-Shahba supported the Resistance of the Age in Afrin

After the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries launched their attacks on Afrin canton on January 20- 2018, by killing civilians and destroying homes and public facilities, the people were forced to leave Afrin and go to al-Shahba canton on March18.

Al-Shahba Council has worked hard since the first day of attacks by the Turkish occupation army on Afrin canton, in terms of providing support from all sides.

The people of al-Shahba received and welcomed the residents of Afrin, after the people of Afrin supported them in their dilemma in 2014 and 2015.

Al-Shaba Canton Council cooperated with Afrin's Autonomous Administration to establish camps in Fafin, Tal Sousin and al-Shahba in Şêrawa district, and provide assistance and support to the residents in the camps.

A.H

ANHA