Martyrs' Families Councils demand immediate release of captives

The Martyrs' Families Councils in the cities of Qamishlo, Tirbê Spiyê, Jel Agha, Girkê Legê, Derik, Derbasiya and Tell Tamer issued a joint statement on Monday regarding the civilian captives and military ones of the Syrian Democratic Forces during the recent attacks.

Qamishlo

In Qamishlo, the statement was read in front of the Martyrs' Families Council building next to Al-Nour Hospital in the city center, in the presence of the captives' families and members of the Martyrs' Families Council.

The statement was read in Kurdish by the council member Liloz Khalil and in Arabic by the council administrator Ubaid Ati.

Jel Agha

In the city of Jel Agha, the statement was read in front of the Martyrs' Families Council building in Al-Rasafa neighborhood, in Kurdish by the council member Ahin Shweish and in Arabic by the member Karima al-Ahmed, in the presence of representatives of the martyrs' families, the city council and institutions, who raised the flags of the Martyrs' Families Council.

Derik

In the city of Derik, the statement was read in front of the Martyrs' Families Council building by the council member Mahmoud Rasoul, in the presence of members of the Martyrs' Families Council in the city.

Tirbê Spiyê

In the city of Tirbê Spiyê, the statement was read in front of the Martyrs' Families Council building west of the city by the council member Shelan Haji in Kurdish and the council administrator Hussein Khalid in Arabic, with the participation of the martyrs' families in the city.

Girkê Legê

In the city of Girkê Legê, the statement was read in front of the Martyrs' Families Council building in Rmeilan, where it was read in Arabic by the council member Zakia Youssef and in Kurdish by the council administrator Hazin Abo Zeid, in the presence of the martyrs' families and representatives of the city's institutions.

Derbasiya

In the city of Derbasiya, it was read by the council member Ibrahim Hassen Ali in Kurdish and by the member Jeylan Haider Hamo in Arabic, in the presence of the families of the martyrs and representatives of the city's institutions.

Tell Tamer

In the city of Tell Tamer, the statement was read in Kurdish by the council member Nalin Sido and in Arabic by the member Jenar Youssef, in the presence of families of martyrs and representatives of the city institutions.

The statement included: "On behalf of the Martyrs' Families Council in Rojava, and on behalf of every mother awaiting news of her beloved son, and every family that has sacrificed everything for the dignity of this land, we address this statement to the international public opinion, human rights organizations, and all actors on the Syrian scene."

The statement emphasized that the issue of captives and detainees held by the Syrian Interim Government was not merely a political matter or a bargaining chip, but a humanitarian and moral issue that touched the conscience of every home in the region. It mentioned that the continued detention of these sons, separated from their families and in conditions that fall far short of the most basic standards of justice and international law, was a blatant violation of human rights.

The Martyrs' Families Council called upon the Syrian Interim Government and the relevant authorities to immediately release all captives and detainees in their custody, and to disclose the fate of those missing, without any conditions.

The Council also called upon the international actors, humanitarian organizations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, and exert serious pressure to determine the whereabouts of these prisoners and ensure their physical and psychological well-being.

The statement stated that "revealing the fate of these heroes is a sacred right of their families, and their return to their mothers' arms is the demand we do not surrender to extinguish the burning pain of waiting and bring joy to the hearts of the families of martyrs and captives."

In closing, the Martyrs' Families Council reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the cause of captives until they would be free and reunited with their families.

It is worth mentioning that the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, revealed in a meeting with the captives' families a few days prior that there had been 1,070 captives, both civilians and military personnel, captured during the recent attacks, and stated that they were working diligently to secure their release as soon as possible.

ANHA