Turkish occupation trial kicks off in Brussels for crimes in NE Syria

The trial session of the Turkish occupation state for the crimes it has committed in the NE Syria region has just commenced at the People's Tribunal in Brussels.

The trial is being held at the Free University of Brussels in Lecture Hall 1 at the Etterbeek campus, with the participation of lawyers, journalists, and human rights activists specializing in international crimes. The proceedings will continue over February 5 and 6.

The lawsuit against the authorities of the Turkish occupation state was initiated by the Foreign Relations Committee of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, along with lawyers monitoring Turkish state crimes, the Research Center for Women's Rights Protection, and human rights organizations.

The trial is organized by the Association for Democracy and International Law (ULB, MAF-DAD), the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), and the Kurdish Institute in Brussels.

The court will examine multiple cases and crimes committed by the Turkish occupation state, including:

The assassination of Hevrin Khalaf

Hevrin Khalaf, a Kurdish politician and Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, was assassinated by the mercenary Hatim Abu Shaqra, leader of the Ahrar al-Sharqiya faction affiliated with the Turkish occupation. She was killed on October 12, 2019, during Turkey’s attacks on the cities of Serê Kaniyê (Ras al-Ayn) and Girê Spî (Tal Abyad).

The occupation of Afrin, Serê Kaniyê, and Girê Spî

Turkey and its mercenaries occupied Afrin in March 2018 and later seized Serê Kaniyê and Girê Spî in October 2019. During these attacks and the subsequent occupation period, war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed, including the forced displacement of thousands of civilians from these cities and the confiscation of their homes.

The occupation also led to the destruction of infrastructure and vital facilities such as schools and hospitals, as well as the targeting of Yazidi religious shrines and archaeological sites that attest to the deep-rooted history and cultural heritage of the Kurdish people.

Furthermore, Turkey has continued its destructive policies, altering the region’s demography by settling people unrelated to the area in new housing complexes built after the original residents’ homes and olive groves were destroyed.

This case will also address Turkey’s use of internationally banned weapons in its attacks on Afrin and Serê Kaniyê.

The targeting of Kobani Hospital

In recent years, the Turkish occupation has launched airstrikes on several hospitals in North and East Syria, including the attack on Kobani Hospital (Mishte Noor) in December 2023. The hospital was struck six times by Turkish drones, resulting in its complete destruction.

This hospital, built with support from Doctors Without Borders, housed departments for children, women, diabetes, neurology, a pharmacy, a medical testing lab, and three ambulances, providing free medical services to 300–400 people daily.

Targeting infrastructure and vital facilities

Between 2023 and 2025, the Turkish occupation has repeatedly targeted essential infrastructure in North and East Syria with warplanes and drones, leading to the destruction and shutdown of critical services. These include electricity stations, grain silos, mills, bakeries, schools, oil refineries, and other factories and industrial facilities, severely impacting civilians' daily lives.

The attack on Simav Printing Press

On December 25, 2023, Turkish drones targeted Simav Printing Press in Qamishlo, killing six employees and injuring several others. The attack caused extensive destruction to the building and its equipment, rendering it inoperable.

This printing press, owned by civilians, played a crucial role in providing educational and printed materials for Qamishlo, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the region.

Crimes against women

During its attacks on North and East Syria and its occupation of certain areas, Turkish-backed mercenaries have committed numerous crimes against women, including murder, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, and sexual violence. These crimes continue to be committed in Turkish-occupied areas without any moral or legal deterrents, making Turkey responsible as an occupying power.

All these cases, along with many other violations committed by the Turkish occupation state and its affiliated mercenary groups, known as the "Syrian National Army", constitute grave human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law. Immediate and decisive action is necessary against the Turkish state, which sponsors and directs these groups to carry out crimes targeting Kurds, Arabs, Yazidis, Syriacs, and other communities in Northern and Eastern Syria who have lived together in peace.

A-H

ANHA