Qamishlo Municipality Massacre, 8 years on

On 11 March 2014 mercenaries stormed the Qamishlo Municipality Building in the city of Qamishlo in which Ibrahim Aziz that exerted huge efforts in establishing the municipality among ten others. 

Roshan Mohamed Zaki, Ferhad Abdul Aziz, Musa Azad Musa, Ali Bira, Cihan Murad, Amina Bilal, Ferhad Othman, 'Ala' Addin Abdul Ilah, Awaz Mahmoud and Halabja Khalil all martyred in the attack.

Co-chair of the municipality then Mu'az Abdul Kareem who survived the massacre told ANHA '' with the Rojava revolution many establishments were created and formed, many attacks were carried out against such bids and achievement. At the time the Autonomous Administration had been announced. Developing such associations was developing the AA too. The mercenary groups affiliated to the Damascus government were following the situation closely. A well planned attack was carried out''. 

The second co-chair of the municipality then was Sema Baghdash, now spokesperson for the Democratic Union Party, the PYD, Sema was present at the building at the time of the massacre. Sema said' in general March is a month full of tragedies from one hand and a month of happiness from another. The 11 March massacre is a painful occurrence. Sema indicated the main reason behind the massacre was the gains made with the onset of the ''Rojava Revolution and the attendance by Qamishlo delegations in Amed, Ankara to explain the core of the co-chairmanship system in addition to their works and activities in the Rojava Revolution''. 

Sema said the declaration of the AA in Afrin and Kobane was a historical precedence for the Kurdish people in Rojava. The aim of the attack on the municipality was to spread fear  and terror in the city of Qamishlo and the region as a whole to put an end to the gains made''.

Sema said they were making preparations to commemorate the 12 March Stadium martyrs. The municipality was a civil association not a military facility. Kurds, Arabs and  Syriacs were employed in the municipality.

Sema indicated that those fell martyrs in the attack exerted efforts in establishing the municipality in the city of Qamishlo.

The former Co-chair of the Qamishlo municipality concluded by saying we offer our condolences to the families of victims that fell in the attack. We will achieve our aims and goals in spite of all hardships and challenges ahead and our peoples' demands and aspirations would be met''.

Worth to note the 11 martyrs of the Qamishlo Municipality are remembered as candles are lit every year at their tombs.

L..A

ANHA