​​​​​​​Afrin Social Association: Perpetrators must be held accountable as war criminals

 On the painful fifth anniversary of the start of the Turkish occupation state's attack on Afrin, on January 20, 2018, the Afrin Social Association issued a statement to the public opinion.

 The statement was read by a member of the association, Jihan Hussein, in the "Nabi Houri" roundabout on the eastern side of the city of Qamishlo, and dozens of displaced people from Afrin participated in it.

 And he stated at its beginning: "On this dark and inauspicious day and at this hour, in 2018, Turkish planes bombed the safe areas of Afrin, which were sheltering thousands of displaced Syrians from various Syrian governorates and providing them with assistance. This brutal attack was followed up with the support of the armed factions and Syrian mercenaries, as they worked on  erasing the Kurdish identity in the Afrin region, in which the percentage of Kurds was 98%.

 The statement referred to the crimes committed by the Turkish occupation in occupied Afrin and its encroachment on archaeological sites, worldly shrines, and even cemeteries: "Even our dead were not spared from them. This brutal war lasted more than 58 days, as it was met with great resistance by its people and youth, who paid their lives for it.  It also resulted in the forced displacement of the indigenous population.

 The suffering continues, and the violations against the stone, the trees, and the people of Afrin residing there, where they are subjected to violations, kidnapping, and imprisonment on important charges in order to obtain a ransom. The forcibly displaced people of Afrin in the areas of displacement suffer from the scourge of war and the permanent siege of their areas of displacement, hoping to return to their home.

 Regarding the silence of the international forces towards what the occupation is committing, the statement continued: "All of this is under the eyes and ears of the world, which turns a blind eye to the violations and scourges against the Afrin people. We, in the Afrin Association, condemn this silence and this immoral responsibility on the part of the international community for the demographic change that is taking place in Afrin."  We call for an end to these practices and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and held accountable as war criminals.”

 The statement concluded by saluting the souls of the martyrs who defended Afrin, and the fighters who are still resisting, and stated in it: "A salute to the souls of the holy men and women of the YPJ, YPG, and all those who defended Afrin and are still paying the price in the hope of returning to the olive grove. Greetings to our steadfast people in  areas of displacement despite the ongoing siege, as we affirm that occupied Afrin is the issue strongly present in all our endeavors. We call on all human rights organizations and the United Nations to put pressure on Turkey to end its occupation of our regions and the dignified and safe return of its people under international supervision.

 The statement ended with loud slogans, "Long live the prison resistance" and "Long live the resistance of the age, death and shame for the traitors."

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ANHA