“Occupier aims to obliterate civilizational identity of Syrian people”

The co-chair of the Culture Authority, Aisha al-Rajab, spoke to Hawar News about the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries’ practices in the occupied areas in Afrin, Serekaniye and Girê Sp.

Aisha Rajab referred to the Turkish practices that are contrary to international laws, "the Turkish occupation state, since its occupation of Afrin canton, has gone ahead with excavation and bulldozing of archaeological sites, striking all the international laws and conventions that protect such sites beyond the wall."

Aisha Rajab shed light on the international silence towards the Turkish crimes, "After occupying both Serekaniye and Girê Spi after its barbaric aggression against the regions of northern and eastern Syria on the 9th of October of last year, it excavated a number of these sites, such as Tal Halaf in Serekaniye/ Ras al-Ain, Tal Kafifah and Sahlan in Girê Spi without the international community moving a finger, despite repeated calls to protect these sites.

Our agency also documented that the Turkish occupying army and its mercenaries bulldozed several archaeological sites, and excavated them in Girê Sp district, such as Tel al-Dahlez, Hashisha, the city of Far, al-Sabay al-Abyad in Hamam Turkmen of the occupied Girê Spi / Tal Abyad canton.

The co-chair of the Culture Authority in the Autonomous Administration pointed out to the historical value of the antiquities that Turkey smuggled out of the occupied areas in Syria, "These antiquities are very crucial to us, as they are the identity and cultural heritage of the peoples of the region who have lived on the land of Syria for thousands of years."

The Turkish occupation state encourages excavation in such sites and pretends to bulldoze some of them by erecting military points, as happened in the archaeological site of Kafifa, and it also facilitates and overlooks antiquities thieves who wreak corruption on them, provided that everything found is sold to Turkish merchants.

Aisha Rajab called on the international community and organizations concerned with the protection of antiquities, "UNESCO" to investigate these violations that affect the cultural heritage of the peoples of our regions.

J.O

ANHA