Aleppo Seminar: No return to Afrin without Turkish withdrawal

The seminar, held today under the slogan “Afrin is Our Dignity… We Demand a Return with Dignity”, included representatives from seven political parties, alongside displaced persons from Afrin, independent figures, civil institutions, intellectuals, human rights activists, medical professionals, and representatives of women’s movements.

Hosted at the Media Hall in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, the seminar discussed the delays by the so-called “Syrian Transitional Government” in implementing the provisions of the March 10 Agreement, which stipulates ensuring a safe return for Afrin’s displaced population. Speakers emphasized that the Turkish occupation remains the primary obstacle to any resolution.

During the interventions, Khalida Abdo, Co-Chair of the Future Syria Party, stressed the need for practical measures to return displaced persons to their areas, describing the transitional government as violating the agreement and succumbing to Turkish dictates.

Walat Maamo, the member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Democratic Union Party, noted that the Turkish offensive on Afrin aimed to undermine the achievements of the Autonomous Administration and strip the region of its Kurdish identity.

Engineer and former Adviser to the Grand Mufti of Syria, Basel Qas Nasrallah, affirmed that “the transitional government does not represent the aspirations of Syrians,” while independent figure Abdulaziz Hamdoush described the individual returns of some residents as “unsafe and not altering the reality of occupation and violations.” Dr. Abdullah Habash warned of the deep Turkish-Syrian conflict and its role in perpetuating chaos through the support of mercenary groups.

The seminar concluded with a joint statement, read in Kurdish and Arabic, noting that the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries continue daily violations, including looting, abductions, and arbitrary detention, while the interim government fails to implement any of its commitments under the March 10 Agreement.

The statement affirmed that any discussion of a “dignified return” is unattainable without the withdrawal of Turkish forces and allied factions, as well as the reversal of demographic alteration policies. It emphasized that the solution lies in enabling the residents of Afrin to manage their region independently, free from external impositions, as a legitimate and legal right guaranteed by international conventions.

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ANHA