Turkish occupation prevents residents of border villages from accessing their agricultural lands

With the start of the new agricultural season (winter), the suffering of the residents of the Alyan area, located along the border with Northern Kurdistan in Jazira canton of Northeast Syria, has intensified. Farmers’ fears about plowing and preparing their lands for the new season are growing, due to ongoing violations and harassment by the Turkish occupation army.

In testimony to the persistent attacks by the Turkish occupation forces over past decades, farmer Ramadan Suleiman from the village of Batirzan, adjacent to the border strip, told ANHA agency that his father lost his life in the 1970s from a gunshot fired by Turkish forces while he was sitting in front of their home.

He explained that he owns 100 dunams of farmland located directly on the border strip, but has been unable to approach it for the past ten years due to harassment by Turkish forces.

Farmer Ramadan, who greets this agricultural season with sorrow, said, “I have not farmed my land for ten years,” emphasizing that the residents of Alyan villages rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

He added, “The Turkish occupation army deprives us of our lands through continuous harassment over the past decade,” calling for an end to these abuses. He urged the Turkish occupation state to halt the actions of its forces stationed at the border and appealed to international organizations to intervene and put an end to these practices.

Meanwhile, farmer Ashraf, also from Batirzan village, confirmed that they cannot even step one meter outside their village near the border strip to enjoy the nature there, as the Turkish army fires at anyone approaching the area.

He said, “This is injustice. The Turkish occupation continues to harass us, kill our livestock, and deprive us of our lands.”

Citizen Hassan Murad, a livestock owner from the village of Qastaban, stated that Turkish occupation forces prevent them from grazing their animals on the village pastures. He noted that in May, occupation forces fired on a flock of sheep belonging to residents of the villages of Diruna Aghi and Kharbalak, causing the death of some animals.

Hassan described the Turkish occupation’s actions as “inhumane and unethical,” stressing that Turkey’s claims about protecting its borders are mere “pretexts.” He affirmed that they will not abandon their lands regardless of the severity of harassment.

Citizen Suleiman Haji Abbas from the border village of Bakrwan confirmed that ongoing harassment and shooting at their livestock by Turkish forces compel shepherds to abandon their animals periodically. He described the occupation’s treatment of people, their livelihoods, and livestock as “barbaric,” which has led him to consider selling his animals.

ANHA