The General Assembly of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah Neighborhoods in Aleppo issued a press statement regarding the crimes committed by the Turkish state and affiliated armed mercenary groups in occupied Afrin.
A number of citizens, including Afrin IDPs, representatives of political parties, and members of civil society organizations attended the press briefing in Ashrafiyah neighborhood.
The press statement, read in both Kurdish and Arabic, said, “The ancient city of Afrin, known for its olives and a refuge for the Syrian people throughout years of war, is groaning under the shadow of systematic oppression and ongoing violations.”
The statement pointed out that olive trees in Afrin are not only economically valuable but also carry social and cultural significance, remarking that the systematic destruction of these trees is making it difficult for the people to earn a living.
The statement noted that this year’s olive harvest is plundered using “new methods” and emphasized the following: “The so-called Economic Committee is seizing farmers’ fields on the grounds that their ‘documents are incomplete’. Not only lands, but also Afrin’s historical heritage and living spaces are being systematically seized. The demographic structure of the region is being altered; the goal is not only to destroy stones, but to erase the traces of history and obscure the history of the people of Afrin.”
The Assembly also condemned attacks and pressure against civilians, stating: “Civilians are victims of deliberate attacks and pressure. All these practices are a clear violation of human rights and the dignity of life.”
The statement pointed out that the Syrian Transitional Government is creating fear within society instead of protecting the people and enforcing the law. The Assembly held the Syrian Transitional Government, the international community and human rights organizations responsible for the crimes committed in Afrin.
“The legitimate rights of the people of Afrin must be protected, the safety of civilians must be ensured, and the perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice,” the Assembly demanded.