Afrin’s displaced women: withdrawal of mercenaries is a prerequisite for safe return

Displaced women from Turkish-occupied Afrin and Shahba, now residing in the Tabqa region of North and East Syria, insist that they will not return to their homes until the mercenaries are expelled and security is restored under the control of Afrin’s own residents. They stress that they have no confidence in any external forces, and that their return must be collective to preserve dignity and rights.

The women forced to flee their homes following Turkey’s 2018 occupation of Afrin and surrounding areas agree that a safe return is impossible as long as mercenaries and Turkish forces remain. They emphasize that the region must be handed back to its people, who alone can ensure peace and justice.

“Safety is the foundation of return,” said Asia Sheikho, a displaced woman from Afrin. “We will not go back as long as Turkey’s mercenaries are there spreading crimes everywhere. Even the trees did not escape their destruction. When peace comes and the militias withdraw, we will all return together every family from Afrin and Shahba, hand in hand.”

Another displaced woman, Fanar Ibrahim, echoed the same sentiment:

“The lack of security is the main reason we cannot return now. With the militias and Turkish occupation, there is no safety only fear and crime. If they leave, we will return. We trust only our own people to protect our lands. Our return must be collective, never individual.”

Khadija Hamo, also from Afrin, stressed that justice and the restoration of rights are non-negotiable conditions:

“We want to go back home, but only after every mercenary leaves and the looted properties are returned to their rightful owners. There must be real guarantees for a dignified return, and our areas should be governed and protected by their own residents.”

The women emphasized that they will not relinquish the progress achieved during their years of displacement particularly in women’s organization and social participation.
As Khadija Hamo put it:

“We will not back down from the gains we’ve achieved. After returning, women’s institutions and internal security forces dedicated to protecting women’s rights must be established.”

With a united stance, the women affirm that returning home is not merely about going back to their houses it is a return to dignity, freedom, and safety. Such a return, they stress, will only be possible when Afrin is liberated and governed by its own people.

According to local estimates, between 15,000 and 20,000 displaced people from Afrin and Shahba currently live in the Tabqa region, distributed among several camps and shelter centers.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been negotiating with the Syrian Interim Government to ensure the safe and dignified return of the displaced.

ANHA