​​​​​​​Evidences of gross violations haunt Turkey, its mercenaries amid double international standards

Human rights organizations continue to document the violations of Turkey and its mercenaries in the occupied Syrian territories. According to them, war crimes such as killing, kidnapping and displacement have increased, in addition to putting the Syrian prisoners before the Turkish courts, which contradicts international laws.

'clear violations of international law'

On October 22, the Syrian Observatory published a report that stated that the mercenary groups affiliated with Turkey continue "their violations against the people of Afrin, who refused to leave their areas in Afrin."

According to the Observatory, following Turkey and its mercenaries occupation of Afrin, "various violations have been committed on a daily basis, such as robberies, imposing royalties, kidnapping, arrest and seizing property and agricultural crops, etc."

On this, Abeer Hayali, a researcher in political science and international relations, said during an interview with Hawar News Agency (ANHA): "Turkey's violation in the Syrian occupied areas are a gross violation of international law and human rights."

"The number of violations goes far beyond the reported."

Human rights organizations recorded serious violations, such as organized kidnappings for ransom and daily raids on people houses.

The Observatory for Documentation of Violations in Northern Syria indicated that, 127 people were arrested last October, including women and children.

Commenting on this statistic, she said: "Personally, I think that the number is much greater than that, because some families are reluctant to speak about their relatives for fear of them."

"They aim at emptying the area of its original inhabitants."

The VDO in northern Syria said that the looting and systematic displacement continues.

The area is also subject to deliberate sabotage operations, such as cutting down trees and seizing agricultural crops.

According to the VDO, 7027 arrestees and 1016 cases of torture have been documented since Turkey's occupation of some areas of northern Syria in cooperation with the mercenaries of the so-called "National Army" (NA).

Regarding their goals of these violations, she believes, "This policy aims at emptying the region of its original inhabitants."

"Turkey is an aggressor state, it cannot prosecute prisoners of war."

During the Turkish occupation attacks on the cities of Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad on October 9, 2019, it kidnapped and captured a number of humanitarian and medical activists, in addition to the fighter in the Women's Protection Units Cicek Kobani, who was saving civilians from the Turkish bombing. She was arrested by the mercenaries and transferred her to Turkey. Later she was put before the Turkish courts.

On this, the researcher in political science and international relations, Abeer Hayali, said: "Turkey has no right to prosecute any Syrian arrestee because it is an aggressor country, and can not hold a fair trial, consequently this contradicts the United Nations laws regarding prisoners."

She explained, "Syrian arrestees in Turkey can be considered kidnapped."

She added, "UN's charters provide for legal protection for all individuals, and this is what Turkey cannot offer even to its original citizens, as it is well-known worldwide for violating freedoms."

"Illegal Turkish practices and duplicative international policy"

In turn, a Kurdish academic believes that all Turkey's violations are illegal and invalid, while the major powers keep silent.

She emphasized that "Turkey has entered international territories and that the malicious international prevails, this contradicts all international legal rules."

The academic pointed out that "the problem lies in Syria's weak relations with the world, in the hidden support of some countries to Turkey, ISIS and armed groups in the name of the Syrian opposition backed by Turkey."

When will the file of the Turkish violations be opened by the international community?

Earlier, the International Commission of Inquiry on Syria held the Turkish occupation responsible for ensuring order and public safety and providing protection, especially for children and women in the occupied Syrian areas.

In its report, the ICRS stated that in Serêkaniyê / Ras al-Ain and Girê Spî / Tal Abyad and Afrin properties were looted and detainees were tortured.

The report that was submitted to the Human Rights Council that carried out investigations from January 11 of last year to July 1 of the same year revealing that the, Kurdish population, in particular in the city of Afrin and Gire Spî / Ras al-Ain, were subjected to violations by the so-called "National Army" mercenaries.

On the international position on these violations, Abeer Hayali, a researcher in political science and international relations, said: “Unfortunately, the international community is aware of the seriousness of Turkish practices, but it is still far from taking clear steps to stop them, and the file of Turkish violations may be opened if the European Union imposes sanctions on Turkey and may use them as papers. Pressure".

(A)

ANHA