On anniversary of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî occupation ... 76 organizations message international community

The organizations message read:

“To the United Nations and international organizations, on the anniversary of the occupation of the cities of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî/ Tal Abyad, Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell, the UN Special Envoy Special to Syria, Mr. Geir Pederson. "

The text of the message read:

Today, October 9^th, marks the first anniversary of the occupation of the Turkish army and its affiliated extremist factions' cities of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad.

On this day, the Turkish army and its linked extremist factions launched a ground and air attack on Serêkaniyê in Al- Hasakah canton, and Girê Sp / Tal Abyad in the Al-Raqqa governorate, under the name “Peace Spring”, claiming lives of dozens and displacing more than 200,000 civilians towards Al-Raqqa and Al-Hasakah.

We - the signatories on this letter, while we condemn the Turkish forces and the extremist factions ongoing operations of ethnic and mass genocide against civilians. We address the international community, UN agencies and EU organizations, to pressure the Turkish government to stop these flagrant violations immediately and unconditionally, and ensure that these violations do not recur, and preserve the private property of civilians in Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad.

We anticipate that the international community ensure the provision of a minimum level of safety in the occupied areas of NE Syria, and open an independent investigation and hold those involved accountable, to save civilians from Turkish practices and its linked mercenaries, based on the heinous facts on the ground as well as report of the Independent International Commission concerned with Syria. "

At the same time, we would like to stress on the need for the UN agencies, the European Union to implement the United Nations resolutions in relation with the political solution in Syria their duty to urge the Turkish government to fully adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law, spare civilians all the risks of its military operations immediately and work to provide urgent assistance to the displaced of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad.

The Turkish army and its affiliated Syrian extremist factions, officially known as the “Syrian National Army”, have committed grave violations against civilians, including field executions, kidnappings, attacks, displacement and artillery targeting medical centers and facilities, and indiscriminate attacks on residential neighborhoods and disrupting all service institutions in the two cities. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as Amnesty International, have documented some of these crimes, which fall under the description of war crimes.

The Turkey and these factions deliberately targeted civilians, expelled them from their homes and properties, and settled the families of the members of those factions in their place. According to the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria on September 14, the aforementioned Syrian National Army, seized Kurdish homes, looted them, and displaced them, except for the brigades of these factions carry out killings, kidnappings, torture, threats and extortion.

The report also stated that women in the cities of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad, and the Kurdish women in particular, were subjected to extortion, threats, rape, kidnapping and coercion to marry members and fighters of the Syrian Islamic factions, which prompted the reluctance of families from the city of Girê Spî Tal Abyad on returning to their homes for fear of rape, kidnapping, arrest and abuse.

Within a year, the Turkish forces and its pro-factions were not satisfied with targeting civilians in the center of the two occupied cities; Rather, they began targeting civilians in the areas not under its rule in Al-Hasakah canton, and it weaponized water against civilians in the city of Al-Hasakah. It suspended pumping water from the Alouk water station in the eastern countryside of the city of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain to the city of Hasakah and its countryside, and it had previously cut water repeatedly in February, March, April and July.

Civilians faced faced the Covid-19 virus pandemic without water, and were able to adhere to the preventive measures imposed by the health authorities and agencies.

This letter, which was written on the anniversary of the occupation of the cities of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain in the Al-Hasakah, and Girê Spe / Tal Abyad in the Al-Raqqa governorate, represents the hopes of the displaced from the two regions and the entire population of northeast Syria, who are under a real threat due to violations of the Turkish forces and its linked Syrian extremist factions. "

This message is an attempt to convey the voice of the local population in northeast Syria, and to express the extent of their need for real international support, paving the way for their safe return to their homes and the expulsion of the occupying forces from their cities and towns.

The organizations that signed the letter:

1. ASO for Consulting and Strategic Studies

2. The Kurdish Committee for Human Rights ( Al-MARSAD)

3. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

4. The International Organization for the War and Disaster Victims Care

5. The Kurdish Organization for Human Rights in Syria (DAD)

6. The Kurdish Legal Commission

7. The Yazidi house in the Al-Jazeera region

8. PEL – Civil Waves

9 – Ta'a Marbouta

10. The Syrian Kurdish Civil Forces Group

.11  Jinar Association for Development

12. Bukra Ahla Association for Relief and Development

13. The Judy Society

14. Judy Association for Development and Relief

15. The Jumard Charitable Society

16. Jiyan Charitable Society

17. Khunaf Association for Relief and Development

18. Dijlah Association for Environmental Protection

19. The Soz Society

20. Shawishka Association for Women

21. Al-Shimal Charitable Society

22. Dan for Relief and Development

23. Syrians for Truth and Justice

24. Youth for Change

25. Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network

26. Peace Leaders Network

27. Shams for Rehabilitation and Development

28. ShIlan for Relief and Development

29. Suna'a of Hope

30. Ata'a without Limits

31. Kurdistan Civil Society Forces

32. The Human Rights Committee in Syria (MAF)

33. Nûdem Media Foundation

34. The Foundation Kurds Without Borders

35. Max Vision

36. Syrian Women Council

37. Women's Council in North and East Syria

38. Shar Center for Community Development

39. Center for Research and Protection of Women's Rights in Syria

40. Justice and Construction Center

41. Orido Center for Civil Society and Democracy

42. Balsam Center for Health Education

43. Violations Documentation Center in Northern Syria

44. Jiwan Center for Civil Work

45. Rashid Hamo Cultural and Social Center

46. ​​Silav Center for Civic Activities

47. Smart Center

48. Pharmacists Union of North and East Syria

49. Justice Center for Human Rights

50. Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society

51. Tal Abyad Forum for Civil Society

52. A Platform for Civil Society Institutions in North and East Syria

53. Yazdina Organization

54. Aima Organization

55. Land of Peace Organization

56. Legal Construction Organization

57. Al Jazeera Organization for Development

58. Al-Furat Organization for Relief and Development

59. The Jasmine Organization

60. Ashna Development Organization

61. Inash Development Organization

62. Partners International for Relief and Development

63. Human Rights Organization in Syria - MAF

64. The Dawes Organization for Civil Society

65. Sara Organization for Combating Violence Against Women

66. Sawaeed Organization for Development

67. Sal Organization for Media and Development

68. Ataa Al-Baghouz Organization

69. Ataa Organization for Relief and Development

70. Kobane Organization for Relief and Development

71. The Human Rights Defense Initiative - Syria

72. Organization of Multaqa Al-Nahrin

73. Mahabad Human Rights Organization MOHR

74. Hevi Organization for Relief and Development

75. Ster Development Organization

76. Lawer Organization for the Protection and Development of Livestock

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ANHA