Human Rights Organization: 8 years of violations in Afrin

In a statement issued today marking the eighth anniversary of the occupation of Afrin on March 18, 2018, the organization highlighted that documented violations since then reflect a tragic reality.

According to the statement, around 784 people, including women and children, have been killed. More than 10,000 civilians have been abducted or detained, with the fate of thousands still unknown. It is estimated that over 2,200 detainees remain in harsh prison conditions, alongside hundreds of cases of physical and psychological torture.

On the demographic level, the statement noted that military operations and subsequent violations led to the displacement of more than 300,000 indigenous Kurdish residents. Families from other Syrian regions were resettled in the homes of the displaced, resulting in significant demographic change.

The organization also documented the seizure of thousands of homes, shops, and agricultural lands, as well as the cutting or burning of more than one million olive and forest trees.

 Additionally, taxes and extortion were imposed on crops, and agricultural production was looted.

Archaeological sites were not spared, as they were subjected to excavation and random digging, causing severe damage to the region’s cultural identity.

In conclusion, the organization urged international actors and human rights groups to pressure for an end to the Turkish military presence and allied factions in the region, ensure the safe return of displaced people, and document ongoing violations against civilians.

ANHA