"Destroying Martyrs' Cemetery is unforgivable, unjustifiable act"

The Martyrs' Families Councils in the cities of Aleppo and Tal Tamr condemned the crimes committed by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries in Manbij, the latest of which was the desecration and destruction of martyrs' graves. The councils called on the international community to intervene urgently to stop these destructive actions.

Aleppo

In the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, a large public gathering took place, where residents, members of civil institutions, political parties, councils, and communes assembled in the cemeteries' square to express their rejection of the Turkish occupation’s practices in the occupied areas.

During the gathering, a statement was read by Hanan Kadro, co-chair of the Martyrs' Families Council. The statement read: "The suffering of the people of Manbij continues following the occupation of their areas by Turkish forces and their affiliated factions, where the most horrific violations have been committed against civilians, including attacks on sacred places. Recently, the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries desecrated and destroyed graves."

The statement pointed out that the Turkish occupation systematically violates humanitarian values and principles, reaching the point of destroying cemeteries and sacred sites, as previously seen in the occupied Afrin and al-Shahba.

It further emphasized that these hostile acts are not new, as Turkey has previously committed similar crimes in Girê Spî, Serê Kaniyê, and Bakur Kurdistan, including bombing cemeteries and showing blatant disregard for the dead and martyrs, in clear violation of all international laws and conventions.

The statement urged the international community and human rights organizations to play their role in stopping these practices, calling on the Damascus government and other key actors to take serious steps to protect national sanctities, especially the Martyrs' Cemetery, which holds immense symbolic value for all communities.

Tal Tamr

In a related context, dozens of martyrs' families, members of civil society organizations, representatives of political parties, and residents of Tal Tamr gathered at the Martyrs' Families Park, where a public statement was read by Mohammad Alyat, co-chair of the Martyrs' Families Council in Tal Tamr.

The statement read: "On the morning of Eid al-Fitr, amidst the joy of gathering and celebration, the city of Manbij witnessed a heinous act that deeply wounded emotions and struck at the dignity of our honored martyrs. Unknown individuals, devoid of conscience and human values, desecrated and vandalized the graves of martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the homeland, an unforgivable and unjustifiable act."

The statement continued: "The Martyrs' Families Council condemns this horrific criminal act, which goes beyond being a crime against humanity; it is an attack on historical memory. We strongly denounce this blatant assault on the nation's sacred sites and call on the relevant authorities to open an urgent investigation to ensure those responsible for this act are brought to justice and that the law is enforced transparently."

The statement concluded with: "With heavy hearts and unyielding spirits that cherish the sacrifices of our martyrs, we reaffirm our national unity and reject any attempt to distort the memory of the martyrs or diminish their contributions to the advancement of society. This act will not deter us from continuing to defend our values and principles, and our voices will always rise in support of truth and justice."

A-H

ANHA