Five years have passed since Turkish military forces and a coalition of Türkiye-backed Syrian armed groups took over the entire district of Afrin in northern Syria. Living under occupation, locals of Afrin have been subjected to countless violations on a daily basis. The ongoing violations and the inflicted constant fear forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes without any hope of imminent return.
The Afrin offensive was simultaneous with another by the Syrian government forces and their Russian allies against Eastern Ghouta. Regime troops and allies recaptured Ghouta from rebels, after a blistering assault, which killed hundreds and ended in a Russia and Türkiye-brokered surrender deal. The deal transferred tens of thousands of opposition fighters and original residents out of the area and resettled them in parts of Syria’s north, including Afrin.
Independent international organizations and United Nations committees documented violations of various kinds in Afrin, including killing in unlawful attacks, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, ill-treatment, torture, looting, and confiscation of property. Furthermore, hindering the return of displaced original residents, especially the Kurds, as well as acts of Turkification and demographic change have been monitored.
Lack of accountability for these grave human rights violations, in addition to the persistence of impunity make the Turkish-occupied territories completely unsafe, and do not comply with the criteria of voluntary return set by the United Nations. All this while almost 70% of Afrin’s original residents are still forcibly displaced since 2018.
In its latest report, issued on 7 March 2023, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic confirmed the continuation of arbitrary arrests and detentions by the Syrian National Army (SNA) in Afrin. The Commission confirmed that witnesses interviewed for the purpose of the report revealed cases of beating, torture, and ill-treatment in places of detention and during interrogations, with the presence of Turkish officials. In addition, the Commission’s report cited cases of civilian property seizure with reports from interviewees of being prevented from regaining access to their properties and threatened if they tried to claim them back. Furthermore, the Commission said that it continued documenting cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, perpetrated by SNA members, including of children.
As an occupying power, Türkiye has not assumed its responsibilities in areas under its influence in northern Syria, including Afrin. No real action has been taken by the Turkish authorities to ensure the protection of civilians; Türkiye rather gave its SNA proxies a free hand to commit human rights violations against the original residents of those areas. Even the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces failed to stop the human rights violations of the SNA, which supposedly operates under it. Therefore, the undersigned organizations urge the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures; to provide appropriate conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the residents of Afrin and all Syrians, to redress victims, and to punish perpetrators.
The signatory organizations make the recommendations below:
- The United Nations
To cease attempts of ignoring and circumventing the situation in Afrin and other Syrian parts occupied by Türkiye, and compel the latter to assume its responsibilities as an occupying power under international law.
- The Turkish Government
(a) To stop politicizing the situation of northern Syria’s population and turning a blind eye to the human rights abuses that they have been subjected to. This is with the aim to evade recognizing the Turkish presence in Syria as an occupation; which has been already proven by international committees and human rights organizations citing Türkiye’s effective and direct control over northern Syrian territories.
(b) To take all measures – within its authority – necessary to ensure public safety and order and provide special protection for women and children in the areas under its control and stop the gross violations of human rights that its forces and allied militias continue to commit against civilians.
- The Human Rights Council/The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: To provide a comprehensive and accurate briefing on the intertwined web of roles and interests of all foreign/external powers intervening in the Syrian conflict, and its reflection on the state of compliance with the International humanitarian law (IHL) international human rights law (IHRL).
Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:
- Act for Afrin
- Adil Center for Human Righits
- Afrin Platform
- Afrinpost Network
- AIN SHAMS Organization
- ALAHD Organization
- Allied for Peace
- Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
- Al-Zajel Organization
- Amal Al-Furat organization
- Amal For Development
- Analysis and Strategic Study Organization ASO
- Anwar Al-Ghad Organization
- Aras Charity Association
- Areej Organisation
- Ashti Center for Peacebuilding
- Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
- AYADI Moubsra Organization
- Azdehar Organization
- Balsam Organization For Development
- Better Life Organization
- Better Tomorrow Organization
- Center Defanse
- Clemency Organization
- Community Solidarity Organaization
- DAN for Relief and Development
- dari Center
- Dawlaty
- Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
- Dya Al Aml Association
- Ebdaa Organization for Development
- Edraak Organization for Development and Peace
- Enlil Center
- Enma aljazera Organization
- Environment and Water Association (EWAS)
- Espoir Afrin
- Eternity
- Euphrates NGO
- Ezdina Organization
- Fariq Snnae al Mustaqbal
- FDO Organization
- For Feminist
- For Them Organisation
- Friends Charity Association
- Green Women’s Association
- Happy land
- Hdf Humanitarian
- Hevy for Relief and Development
- Hope Makers
- House of Citizenship Organisation
- Human Hope Team
- Human Rights organizations Afrin – Syria
- Human Rigts Organizatin In Jazeera
- Humanitarian and Development Cooperation
- Iwaa organizations
- Jian Charity Association
- Kesksyi Organization
- Khutwa Association
- Kurdische Gemeinschaft Herne ASO
- Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (RASSED)
- Kurdish Cultural Association of Geneva
- Kurdish Feminist Voices
- Kurdish Organization for Human Rights in Syria (DAD)
- Laila Initiative
- Lelun Association for Victims
- Lights for Development and Construction
- Manara Organization
- Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
- Max Vison
- Nama Organization
- Nasmet Amal
- Nujin Society for Community
- Okkaz
- Oxygen Shabab
- PEACE SHE LEADERS NET WORK
- Peace tent
- PÊL- CIVIL WAVES
- Purity Organization
- Qadar Organization
- QRD Organization
- Qudwa Organization for Building and Development
- Ras Al Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
- Reng fore development
- Rescue and Relief taem
- RFD Organization
- Rights Defense Initiative
- RojHilat for Relief and Development
- Rose for Support and Empowerment
- ORG
- Sara Organization To Combat Violence Against Women
- Sawaed Development Organization
- Scsd
- Shar for development
- Share for Community Development
- Shawshka Women’s Association
- Shilan Association for Relief and Development
- Silav Organization for Civil Activities
- Society for Threatened Peoples GfbV/STP
- Stability Support Centre
- Synergy Association for Victims
- Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
- Syrian Cancer Society
- Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network
- Syrians for Truth and Justice
- Taa marbouta
- Tara Organization
- Tel Abyad Forum for Civil Society
- The Leading Woman
- The Levant News
- The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
- Weqaya Association
- Wheat Olive Platfrom
- Women for Peace
- Women of Hope
- Youth For Change
- Youth Optimistic
- Zakon Organization
- Zameen for Development and Peacebuilding