IDPs demand that Turkish state be prosecuted for its crimes in occupied Afrin

The Turkish occupation and its mercenaries carried out war crimes and atrocities during their occupation of the Afrin and Shahba regions, which forcibly displaced more than 300,000 city dwellers and villagers from their cities and villages, statistics and testimonies before the Permanent People's Tribunal established. The tribunal will deliver a final declaration and verdicts.

As for what must be acknowledged, the displaced Hevin Aloush, now a displaced person living in Hasakah, explained, "The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal held in Brussels must call the Turkish state to account for its crimes."

She added, "We hope that the trial would be just, since the population of Afrin has been subjected to harsh violations, including against women, and forced some of them to commit suicide. We demand a fair trial and transparent verdicts."

Hevin added: "All those who contributed to our displacement, including the mercenaries (Al-Amshat), must stand trial. They cannot be allowed to coexist in any future Syria's governance."

For her own part, the displaced Asmahan Ahmed expressed her hopes for the court to achieve justice, saying: "We have progress, but we have to insist on insisting on demanding justice. If we don't insist, the changes in the population and Turkish attacks will get even worse."

The displaced man Bayaz Rashid spoke about the ongoing pain of the displaced, saying: "Our displacement was full of pain, especially the second displacement from Shahba. We wait for the end of the occupation and to get back to our homes."

For his part, the displaced Adnan Sheikh Mohammed claimed that the crimes of the Turkish occupying state will not be forgotten, and he said: "The People's Court should have been organized by now; everyone who has participated in the displacement of the people of Afrin and the violation of their rights must be held accountable."

At the conclusion of his speech, Adnan requested international institutions not to remain silent about the crimes of the occupation state and its mercenaries and stated: "Your silence is complicity in the crime. Our resistance to the occupation will continue and expand."

It must be noted that the Afrin region has witnessed forced displacement of more than 300,000 people since its occupation by the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries in 2018, along with documented reports of engaging in heinous crimes, including demographic change and targeted persecution of civilians.

And he also proceeded to dislodge them a second time in 2024, by invading Shahba and its rural area, and occupying the region with mercenaries.

ANHA