PYD Women’s Councils condemn massacres in Sweida

Today, the Women’s Councils of the PYD issued a series of simultaneous statements in Aleppo, Tabqa Canton, and the cities of Tirbespiyê, Dêrik, and al-Shaddadi in Jazira Canton, regarding the massacres and violations committed against citizens in Sweida.

The statements were read by members of the Women’s Councils at the party’s offices, with dozens of women, council members, members of women’s organizations, and civil institutions in attendance.

The PYD Women’s Councils denounced the violations and crimes against civilians in Sweida, considering the events to be “barbaric and systematic massacres” aimed at tearing apart Syria’s societal fabric and fueling sectarian strife that threatens national unity.

The statements read: “Sweida is being subjected to bloody attacks targeting women, children, and the elderly amid indiscriminate shelling and assaults that have reached hospitals and homes, in blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.”

They pointed to extremist groups affiliated with “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” as the perpetrators of these massacres. The group, they said, “has imposed a policy of looting, killing, and exclusion across various Syrian regions after unilaterally declaring a constitution that marginalizes all components of the Syrian people and installing Ahmad al-Sharaa as president without any popular or political legitimacy.”

The statements also held the Syrian transitional government accountable for the events, accusing the “General Security” of carrying out bloody abuses against civilians in Sweida. They called for “transparent investigations, accountability for those involved, and an end to repressive policies.”

The councils affirmed that Syrian women are partners in the struggle for a free and democratic homeland. They renewed their full solidarity with the people of Sweida, especially the women facing severe violations, and called for the protection of civilians and the provision of a safe and stable environment for the region’s residents.

In conclusion, the PYD Women’s Councils called on the international community, the UN Human Rights Council, and human rights and women’s organizations to intervene urgently to stop the massacres and work toward a comprehensive political solution that guarantees rights and freedoms for all components of the Syrian people, within a decentralized, democratic, and pluralistic state.

A-H 

ANHA 

Aleppo

Tirbespi

Derik