Hundreds of displaced people from Serêkaniyê staged a protest at the Waşokani Camp in Northern and Eastern Syria. The demonstrators condemned the hanging of Turkish and Pakistani flags on official institutions in their hometown, from which they were forcibly displaced in 2019 following Turkey’s occupation of the city by allied armed factions. That occupation took place during the so-called “Peace Spring” operation.
The protest came after reports emerged of an initiative, allegedly supported by the Turkish state, to buy up the homes and lands of displaced people. This has heightened fears that the demographic changes initiated after the “Peace Spring” invasion will continue.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the protesters rejected Turkey’s offers to purchase homes and lands belonging to displaced Kurds, describing the attempt as a violation of their rights and property. They stressed that foreign flags and property acquisition projects threatened the city’s identity, while displaced people continued to endure harsh conditions. They called on international organizations and relevant authorities for urgent intervention to protect their rights and ensure their return.
Secret meeting held
According to North Press, a secret meeting was convened in Serêkaniyê with the participation of Turkish officials, businessmen, tribal leaders, and representatives of Syrian armed groups. The aim of the meeting was to purchase properties belonging to displaced people, mainly Kurds and Christians, and transfer ownership to factions and organizations linked to Turkey.
Local sources confirmed that residents of Serêkaniyê and their associates had approached numerous displaced people with offers to buy their properties at high prices. The Serêkaniyê Displaced Persons Committee described these initiatives as a “systematic demographic change policy,” stressing that it violated international law.
The Committee declared that property transactions carried out under occupation were invalid and warned that those involved could be held accountable under “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity.”
It urged displaced people not to sell their properties and called on the authorities in Damascus to uphold the provisions of the March 10 agreement and stop such policies in occupied areas.
More than 200,000 people forced to flee Serêkaniyê and Girê Sipî still live mostly in tents and rented homes under dire economic conditions. Ongoing security instability in the region, the presence of armed factions, the lack of political representation, and continued clashes make it difficult for displaced people to return home.
Clashes among Turkey-backed armed factions and the continued Turkish military presence make returns a risky option.