Human Rights Orgs demands that an international commission of inquiry be sent to the occupied areas by Turkey

Human Rights Organization in Jazira region stressed the need to send an international commission of inquiry to Turkish occupied areas; to investigate the crimes committed there, disclosing the fate of those abducted by the occupation and its mercenaries, release them and stop the bombing of civilians.

23 October, 2021 10:17

QAMISHLO

On Saturday, the Human Rights Organization of Jazira issued a statement calling for an end to the occupation and the return of IDPs to their cities with international guarantees.

The statement was delivered by the co-chair of the Human Rights Organization of the Jazira region, Avin Juma, in front of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Qamishlo City, with attendance dozens of Ras al-Ain IDPs:

Two years after the start of “Operation Peace Spring” launched by the Turkish state and the armed factions affiliated with it, known as the Syrian National Army, the Syrian territories were occupied between Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad along the Syrian-Turkish border, with an estimated distance of 150 km and a depth of 32 km.

War crimes

The statement noted that "this campaign has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians from their areas after crimes have been committed against them, rising to war crimes and crimes against humanity and causing destruction of infrastructure. In spite of the declared ceasefire and the Russian- American guarantee, the campaign did not effectively stop, leaving hundreds of victims who lost their lives and hundreds of wounded, missing and detained, a number of whom died under torture. "

Demographic change

The statement confirmed that "a major demographic change has taken place in the region through the recruitment of hundreds of armed families from the inside Syria and dozens of foreign families of extremist foreign gunmen, as well as occasional infiltration and the continued systematic bombardment of villages and towns adjacent to the front line, in order to sow terror and stability in the area, especially with the occasional systematic theft of civilian property. They are now living tragic lives in camps and shelters scattered in nearby towns and countryside, suffering with extremely difficult physical, health and living conditions.

Demands

The statement continued: "We in the human rights organization in Jazira, and during the past two years, we have documented the violations committed by the Turkish state and the Syrian opposition factions against civilians in the occupied areas in the north and east of Syria, and on the Syrian-Turkish border. Accordingly, we demand, according to the capabilities available to us, and because of the prevention of the entry of independent human rights organizations into the occupied territories to monitor what is happening in an impartial and independent manner with:

1- Working to end the Turkish occupation of the region, and calling for international peacekeeping forces to supervise the region after ending the occupation in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations and international law.

2- As an occupying power and supportive of local factions operating in areas under their control, the Turkish authorities must ensure that their officials, and those under their command, do not arbitrarily detain, ill-treat, or abuse any person, stop the transfer, detention and trial of Syrian citizens from the occupied area, and try them in Turkey; Immediately return all Syrian detainees who have been transferred to Turkey from the occupied territories of Syria.

3- The Turkish authorities are obligated to investigate the aforementioned violations (murder, displacement, demographic change, kidnapping for ransom, arbitrary detention, etc.), and to ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished, and criminally responsible for the leaders who act, or should have acted, for the crimes they committed. It was committed by their leaders, but they took no action to prevent or punish it.

4- Work to urgently send an international mission - the Independent International Special Commission of Inquiry on Syria mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council, as well as relevant organizations and bodies, to the areas occupied by Turkey (Ras al-Ain, Tal Abyad); To investigate and report on these violations, and ensure that those responsible are appropriately punished.

5- Working on the safe return of the forcibly displaced, displaced and fleeing families, and removing all obstacles that prevent their return, with an international guarantee and ensuring that they and their property are not attacked.

6- Urgent action to reveal the fate of the kidnapped, and to release them; Whether inside Turkish prisons or the prisons of the factions cooperating with them.

7- Working to stop the bombing of the people in their safe cities and villages, and not to target civilian objects not participating in the hostilities.

T/S

ANHA