Afrin IDPs renew their demand for safe return to their homes

Displaced people from Afrin and residents of Jazira, the Euphrates cantons and Aleppo issued a series of statements on Monday, on the first anniversary of the forced displacement of Afrin people from al-Shahba, renewing their demand for a safe return to their homes.

Kobane

In Kobane, the displaced people issued a statement at the Martyr Agid Square, read by Shirin Ibrahim and Mohamed Wahid, in the presence of many Afrin displaced residents living in the city.

The statement indicated that the suffering of the people of Afrin has become a humanitarian issue requiring urgent action, and that the ongoing confiscation of property, kidnappings, systematic displacement, and demographic change constitute a flagrant violation of international law and human rights.

It also stressed that these measures aim to deprive the original inhabitants of their natural right to remain on their land.

Through the statement, the displaced people of Afrin and al-Shahba reiterated their continued demands for the rights of the residents until justice is achieved and they return to their homes.

The statement emphasized the following points:

The safe and dignified return of the people of Afrin and al-Shahba to their homes, under international supervision that guarantees the protection of civilians and prevents any violations.

The removal of all checkpoints, the cessation of confiscation operations, and the return of property to its owners.

Condemnation of the violations committed by the mercenaries of the Turkish occupation, including kidnapping, extortion, and the seizure of property, and holding them the full legally and morally responsible.

Holding the Turkish state responsible as an occupying power under international law, and demanding an end to the policies that have exacerbated the suffering of the people.

Calling on the international community and human rights organizations to document the violations and put pressure on the relevant parties to ensure the protection of civilians and respect their rights.

Emphasizing that the return of the people must be accompanied by the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) to guarantee their safety and protection.

The statement concluded by stressing that the voice of the people will remain present to demand their full rights until Afrin is returned to its people.

Tirbê Spiyê

The Yazidi Union in Syria issued a statement, read in front of the Yazidi House in the city of Tirbê Spiyê by the Union's member Maryam Jendo.

The statement said that the anniversary brings to mind "painful events suffered by the population at the hands of mercenaries of the so-called 'Free Army,' following the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham attack on Syrian government forces. Al-Shahba and Sherawa regions, densely populated with displaced people from Afrin, were subjected to a large-scale attack, during which the Afrin Liberation Forces were obliged to repel the attacking forces. The Kurdish authorities then decided to transfer the displaced people to areas under the Autonomous Administration areas, east of the Euphrates, to ensure their safety."

The statement added that "many displaced people from Afrin were subjected to serious violations amounting to war crimes, and that the mercenaries who carried out the attacks were acting according to the instructions of the Turkish occupation state, and a number of civilians lost their lives during these events."

The Yazidi Union in Syria strongly condemned the violations committed against the displaced people of Afrin and called upon human rights organizations, civil society, and the United Nations to uphold their humanitarian and moral responsibilities and work to hold those responsible for these violations accountable before international courts.

The statement concluded by affirming the confidence of the displaced people of Afrin and al-Shahba in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their support for them as a force of protection and stability for the communities of North and East Syria.

Aleppo

For its part, the Kongra Star Congress issued a statement in front of the March 8th Hall in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, with the participation of the Kongra members, as well as representatives of political parties and civil society organizations, and women forcibly displaced from Afrin and al-Shahba regions.

The statement was read by Reihan Alo, the member of the Kongra Star Coordination, and Mays Shasho, the member of the Kongra.

The statement described the anniversary of the displacement as "not merely a date to be recorded, but an open wound in the memory of generations, encapsulating the suffering of being uprooted twice, and the loss of stability and security."

It noted that a full year had passed since the displacement from al-Shahba region on December 1, 2024, and explained that it is "a double suffering that encapsulates the magnitude of the injustice inflicted on our people, and confirms that forced displacement is not a passing event, but a systematic policy targeting our existence and identity."

The statement pointed out that the March 10th Agreement represents a glimmer of hope for the displaced to return to their homes safely. It also noted the Transitional Government's evasion of implementing the agreement's provisions.

The statement affirmed that the people of Afrin, despite all they have endured, still adhere to their right to a safe and dignified return to their homes.

The statement concluded by calling upon "the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and to exert pressure to halt the violations and hold those responsible accountable." It also called upon the Syrian national forces to stand in solidarity in support of the return of all displaced Syrians to their lands.

Tabqa

The Afrin and al-Shahba Displaced Persons Affairs Administration in Tabqa canton issued a statement, read by Arouba Khalil Abd and Mohamed Ali, at the Freedom Camp in the Sports City, with the participation of representatives from councils, offices, and institutions of the Afrin and al-Shahba cantons, in addition to dozens of displaced persons in the canton.

The statement said that "civilians returning to Afrin after the forced displacement campaign of December 2, 2024, were subjected to abduction at checkpoints where their information was recorded before they entered the area, while others were taken from their homes later and their fate remains unknown."

The statement emphasized that the harsh conditions experienced by the displaced, especially in areas under the control of Turkish-backed mercenaries, have made the return of families to their villages conditional on paying taxes ranging between $2,000 and $5,000 per family. The mercenaries continued to put pressure on the families unable to pay the olive harvest levies, resorting to threats, beatings, and other forms of extortion.

The statement also noted that tens of thousands of displaced people from Afrin and al-Shahba are still living in camps and shelters lacking the most basic necessities, with international humanitarian and human rights organizations being absent, exacerbating their suffering.

The statement concluded with an appeal to the international community, particularly the United States and the new Syrian government in Damascus, to take action to end the Turkish military presence and its affiliated Syrian militias, in order to restore security and dignity to Afrin and its people, and enable its original inhabitants to return to their land and birthplace.

Raqqa

In the same context, displaced people from Afrin and al-Shahba issued a statement, read by Jumaa Kalo, the member of the Social Justice Council in Raqqa canton and the diaspora, in front of the Omer Alloush School building on the southern edge of Raqqa city, in the presence of dozens of displaced people from Afrin and al-Shahba residing in Raqqa canton.

The statement indicated that the March 10th Agreement, signed between General Mazloum Abdi and the head of the Syrian Transitional Government, clearly stipulated a guarantee of the safe return of displaced persons; however, this clause has not yet been implemented, exacerbating the suffering of thousands of families.

The statement added, "Displacement is not limited to changing the demographic composition; it constitutes an international crime and a war crime, aimed at uprooting peoples and altering the culture and history of the region."

The statement called on "the Transitional Government and the Autonomous Administration to expedite the implementation of the agreement's provisions." It also appealed to the international organizations and human rights bodies to put pressure on all parties to implement the safe return, considering it a vital necessity for life and livelihood, and a foundation for achieving civil peace, and rejecting violence and sectarian rhetoric.

The statement concluded by calling on all wise people, tribal elders, community leaders, and faction leaders to assume their national responsibilities and work diligently to end the suffering of the displaced, and ensure their safe return to their homes.

J.J

ANHA