Sipan's family calls on Transitional Govt. to hold his killers accountable

The family of Sami Sheikhmous Hesso, a fighter with the Hasakah Brigade known as “Sipan Huzni,” issued a written statement addressed to the relevant judicial and security authorities, calling for the full truth to be uncovered and those involved in his abduction and killing to be held accountable.

Sipan Huzni was abducted from his home, and he was later found dead from a gunshot wound near the village of al-Helw in the Hasakah countryside on September 10, sparking widespread anger and protests.

Abdullah Ocalan described the crime as a provocation, saying in a message published on Wednesday: “You kill a young man brutally, then use it as a pretext to enter the city. This is a provocation. This destruction targeting the basis for dialogue must be stopped immediately.”

The statement issued on behalf of the family of Sami Sheikhmous Hesso, known as “Sipan Huzni,” read as follows:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

We, the family of Sami Sheikhmous Hesso, known among his relatives and comrades as Sipan Huzni, address the public and all relevant authorities through this statement, calling for truth and justice regarding the abduction and killing of our son and brother, Sami.

Sami was a soldier performing his duty in service of the state and in the protection of security and civil peace. Any incident that occurs while a member of the military is performing his duty must be subject to the law, investigation and judicial proceedings. A soldier must not subsequently become a target for revenge or retaliation outside the framework of the law.

We have heard accounts attempting to portray Sami’s killing as ‘tribal revenge’ linked to a previous incident that occurred during his service. We stress that any previous incident must be understood through its documentation and judicial proceedings, rather than through accounts used after the crime to justify revenge.

If there was any dispute or allegation related to an incident that occurred during Sami’s service, legal avenues were open to everyone. But abducting a person from his home and then killing him can be neither justice nor legitimate revenge. It is a crime for which everyone who participated in it, incited it, assisted its perpetrators or attempted to protect them must be held accountable.”

We do not hold an entire ethnic group or tribe responsible for what happened. Responsibility for the crime lies with those who committed it, participated in it or incited it, regardless of their affiliation. Nor are we calling for revenge against anyone, because we do not want another person to be killed in the name of revenge, as Sami was.

Our demand is clear:

* A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sami’s abduction and killing.

* The investigation findings to be made public transparently.

* All those who participated in the crime to be identified, rather than limiting accountability to a single perpetrator, if there was one.

* Any incitement, assistance or protection provided to those involved to be investigated.

* Anyone found responsible to be brought before a fair and independent judiciary.

* Clarifying the truth behind the narrative of “revenge” and its connection to the facts and previous judicial cases.

* Ensuring that tribal or ethnic affiliations do not become a means of obstructing the law or protecting suspects.

Sami was a person before he was a soldier. He was a Syrian Kurd who defended his country and every other Syrian citizen, regardless of their identity, before he was an employee of any particular authority. We believe that a person’s worth and right to life do not change because of their ethnicity, tribe or religion.

We reject the idea of Syria becoming a place where people are held accountable through revenge instead of the law, or where a killer is protected because of their social affiliation. We stress that what we are demanding for Sami is what we want for every person in Syria: security, dignity, equality and justice.

ANHA