Politicians: Violations reveal failure of  Transitional Govt, growing influence of Turkish occupation

Politicians spoke about the ongoing crimes and violations in several Syrian regions—whether occupied by Turkey or run by the transitional government—warning of their impact on stability and on prospects for reaching a comprehensive solution in the country.

Wafiq Jbeib, the member of the Future Syria Party in Aleppo, said the violations have not stopped despite the fall of the Baathist regime. He attributed their continuation to “external interference that began with the Turkish occupation in 2012.”

He explained that “Afrin, since its occupation in 2018 until today, has suffered continuous crimes targeting both people and nature,” noting similar patterns in the coastal region and in Sweida.

Crisis of Trust Between Society and the Transitional Government

Wafiq criticized the transitional government’s failure to fulfill its promises to the people of the coast after the regime’s collapse. He confirmed that “the killings, kidnappings, theft, and rape—documented in audio and video—have destroyed trust between Syrian society and the government.”

He added that the transitional government has attempted to justify violations by describing them as “individual acts” or through superficial investigative committees resembling those of the Baath regime.

He stressed that the path to a solution begins with uncovering the fate of the kidnapped and disappeared, and holding all perpetrators accountable through the judiciary.

Regarding UN Security Council Resolution 2977, he noted that it provides “a basis for protecting all components.” He concluded by affirming that the core solution lies in adopting a comprehensive political settlement through inclusive national dialogue that produces a unifying constitution guaranteeing a decentralized political system that safeguards citizens’ freedom and dignity.

“Unfulfilled Promises” on the Return of the Displaced

For his part, Lawand Alo, also the member of the Future Syria Party, said that occupied areas such as Afrin, Serekaniye, and Gire Spi are effectively run by Turkey and its proxies, despite being nominally under the transitional government.

He pointed to ongoing violations in these areas, citing the killing of three civilians in Afrin last week due to security chaos.

He added that the transitional government has not implemented any real measures to facilitate the return of displaced people, despite the March 10 agreement and repeated promises. He condemned its treatment of the Kurdish language as a foreign language and its silence regarding the theft of olive harvests.

He also confirmed that “the transitional government’s security apparatuses still operate under Baath-era laws, including the ‘Emergency Law,’ with raids and arrests conducted without any legal or judicial basis.”

Women… the Primary Victims

Zleikha Rashida, spokesperson for the Women’s Council of the Future Syria Party in Aleppo, said that nearly 11 months after the collapse of Baath rule, no real change has occurred—especially with the continuation of the Turkish occupation and its violations, particularly against women.

She confirmed that cases of women being kidnapped at gunpoint continue in several areas at the hands of “uncontrolled factions.” She also pointed to the spread of secret prisons in Afrin, Serekaniye, and Gire Spi, in addition to the ongoing seizure of locals’ homes.

Zleikha called on human rights and international bodies to intervene urgently to stop these crimes, particularly as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women approaches on November 25. She demanded an end to the Turkish occupation and that the transitional government assume its responsibilities.

At the end of her remarks, she expressed hope that “2026 will be free of displacement, killing, violations, and occupation,” stressing that “the next phase must be defined by democracy, justice, equality, and dignity.”

ANHA