Residents protest home demolitions by Turkish Forces in Jabal Aqil

Public anger has grown in Jabal Aqil, in rural Aleppo, as dozens of residents staged renewed protests condemning the destruction of their homes and properties by Turkish forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Protesters carried banners calling for justice and the restoration of rights, including slogans such as: “Jabal Aqil calls for its rights… Where is justice?” and “Enough injustice… We want our land and properties,” affirming their determination to return to their homes and rejecting the policy of imposing a fait accompli.

According to sources from the Observatory, this demonstration—the third within a week—came in response to the demolition of around 400 homes by machinery linked to the Turkish base. The homes belonged to residents who had been displaced since 2017. Locals said the actions, carried out under the pretext of a “security zone,” represent a clear violation of property rights, amid fears of permanent geographic and demographic changes in the area.

The protesters called on international bodies and human rights organizations to intervene and stop these violations, stressing that their continued demonstrations send a clear message that their cause will not be forgotten, and that demolishing homes will not erase their legal and historical rights to their land.

Residents of Jabal Aqil had earlier issued a statement on April 22 from al-Bab city, confirming they would continue peaceful protests to reclaim their land and demand compensation for homes destroyed for the construction of a Turkish military base.

The city of al-Bab also witnessed an angry protest on April 18, where residents demanded the return of their properties that had been turned into military bases for nearly nine years.

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ANHA