IDPs from occupied areas are exempt from return despite toppling regime

Despite the passage of nearly eight months since the collapse of the former regime and the return of approximately 1.2 million internally displaced persons to their areas, according to the latest reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), those displaced from Afrin, Serêkaniyê, and Tel Abyad remain excluded from these statistics, given the absence of the necessary conditions for a safe return.

No guarantees from the transitional government

Muhammad Ali, a member of the Aleppo Cultural Forum, expressed his dissatisfaction with the delay in securing the return of Afrin's displaced persons, affirming his support for the position of the Kurdish parties, which emphasize the need to provide protection before any return. He said, "Anyone who wants to return needs a roof over their head. Our homes have been looted, and we are being prevented from returning under threat."

He pointed out that Turkish occupation mercenaries, such as Ahrar al-Sharqiya, are still occupying civilian homes. This is the same group involved in the assassination of the Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, Hevrin Khalaf.

He added that the transitional government in Damascus has not yet provided any real guarantees of security and protection in the event of return, pointing out that this contradicts its repeated statements.

The continued occupation is the deepest dilemma.

Walid Bakr, a member of the Rojava Center for Strategic Studies, believed that the fundamental dilemma lies in the continued presence of the Turkish occupation army. He emphasized that the daily violations against civilians, including kidnapping, robbery, and assault, are a direct result of this occupation and its mercenaries.

Bakr called on the transitional government to hand over security and administrative responsibilities to the people of the region, considering them the most capable of managing their affairs. He recalled that the Democratic Autonomous Administration has fully fulfilled its role in coordinating with the transitional government regarding the al-Hol and al-Arisha Camps.

Criticisms of the media "Unilateral and False"

For her part, Sherine Sheikho, a member of the Aleppo Cultural Forum, believed that the lack of sustainable stability in Syria stems from attempts to draft a unilateral constitution that neither guarantees the rights of all components nor puts an end to the Turkish occupation. She also called on the transitional government to reject dependence on Ankara and to work immediately to secure the return of those displaced from Afrin, Serêkaniyê, and, and Girê Spî (Tal Abyad).

Concluding her remarks, Sherine criticized what she described as "unilateral and false media," which ignores the documentation of daily crimes, stressing that what is being documented does not exceed 15% of the extent of the violations occurring.

It is worth noting that the city of Afrin witnessed, after the fall of the former regime, a series of violations and crimes, most notably the killing of 14-year-old Mustafa Sheikho, in an incident that remains fresh in the memory of all Syrians.

ANHA