Turkish state turns Afrin into a terror spot

On 18 March is considered a black day by the people of Afrin. On this day four years ago thousands were deported they headed to Shahba Canton after a 58-day historical resistance in the face of the second largest NATO Ally supported by thousands of mercenaries too. 

Ibrahim Sheikho, spokesperson for the Human Rights Organization –Afrin –Syria told ANHA: ''during the four years and in spite information emerge are sketchy 8280 civilians were abducted as most of them remain unaccounted for.

According to Sheikho this policy is adopted by the Turkish occupation to deepen the demographic change policy in the Afrin Canton.

Sheikho went on to reveal '' 720 citizens were killed by the Turkish occupation forces of whom 84 women and 70 sexual assaults against women in jails in Afrin and outside''. 

''even nature was not spared in Afrin by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries. Since it was occupied more than 340, 000 olive and forestry trees were cut down and some 12, 000 were burned and a third of the arable lands burned''.  

Regarding settlement Sheikho said: '' in a bid by the Turkish occupation state to continue the policy of the demographic change settlements were built since the Canton was occupied in compounds holding Islamic and humanitarian names such as the Ata' Bil Hidud and the Kuwaiti Charity Found and a Palestinian one'.

These foundations have a big role in building settlements such as Afraze Compound, Baflon Compound, and another one close to the village of Haj Hesne in the district of Jinderes in which families brought from areas handed over the occupation to Russia and Syrian government in line with Astana and Sochi''.  

From his part, Salah Sino, Co-chair of the Antiques and Museums in Afrin revealed the outcome of violations against historical sites and religious sanctuaries after the Canton was occupied where 64 archaeological sites and hills destroyed and 30 sanctuaries destroyed in the whole of the Afrin Canton''.

Sino went on to say many of the places targeted are classified on the UNESCO list of heritage since 2011 and the most of these is Ain Dara Temple and site that were discovered in 1956 which was targeted on the second day of the aggression making damages by 60% to the temple''.

Sino went on to say other sites were targeted too such as the Nebi Huri site that was targeted by every evil weapons by the Turkish occupation army which after occupation was bulldozed''. 

Sino said Turkish occupation forbid activists and locals to approach such sites to document it. On this the destruction is much higher than those documented''.

Sin made it clear that these violations and breaches threaten the Afrin cultural heritage to be removed from existence''.

Sino and Sheikho both called on the human concerned associations to bear their responsibilities regarding the crimes committed on the ground by Turkish forces and their mercenaries.

In turn Co-chair of the Lawyers' Union in Afrin Canton Gabriel Mustafa said:'' since Afrin was occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries appalling crimes are committed against humanity everywhere, and war crimes and war of genocidal acts according to international organizations and the United Nations International Inquiry on Syria tat confirmed crimes committed in Afrin amount to genocide''. 

On the aims behind the policy adopted in Afrin by the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries Gabriel said'' looking back at the history of the Ottoman State we find that what Turkish state does of crimes in Afrin is an extension to the policies of the Ottoman state against the Kurdish people in particular and against other peoples in general, and many massacres committed bear witness to that''.   

Gabriel called on the United Nations and all human rights associations to bear their duties towards the people of Afrin and to hold Turkey and its mercenaries accountable for the  crimes they commit and to work out to exit them from Afrin''. 

L..A

ANHA