Zeynep Oduncu, an MP for Batman (Êlih) from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), said that attacks targeting civilian neighborhoods inhabited by Kurds in Aleppo constitute a deliberate intervention aimed at undermining ongoing efforts toward resolution and dialogue in Syria.
Oduncu said the attacks are not merely a military confrontation but amount to an ideological assault on the social model built in Rojava, which is grounded in women’s freedom and the equal, shared coexistence of peoples. Oduncu added that they do not regard the targeting of these areas by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and similar structures as coincidental.
She said the targeting of civilians, women, and children across the border has generated deep anger and mistrust among the Kurdish public in Turkey, adding that the events in Aleppo are being interpreted through Ankara’s political choices, and that conflict-driven policies are weakening hopes tied to renewed discussions on a resolution process in Turkey.
What happened in Aleppo is clearly and indisputably a crime against humanity
Zeynep Oduncu said the attacks targeting neighborhoods inhabited by Kurds in Aleppo can neither be considered coincidental nor addressed as a local security issue.
Oduncu said: “What has happened in Aleppo cannot be read, from the perspective of the Kurds, as either coincidental or as a local security problem. These attacks took place at a time when discussions on resolution, integration, and political dialogue were being carried out between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian administration. In this sense, they should be assessed as a deliberate provocation by forces opposed to any solution, forces that feed on war and chaos and do not want the possibility of peace in Syria to grow stronger.”
She said the two neighborhoods targeted by the attacks have been subjected to sieges, embargoes, and systematic deprivation for nearly 15 years, since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. Oduncu noted that thousands of people forcibly displaced after the war in Afrin (Efrîn) are also living in these neighborhoods and stressed that there is no military presence in the area. She said, “Within the scope of the agreement reached on April 1, SDF forces withdrew from the region together with all their heavy weapons. Despite this, civilians who have been deprived for months of humanitarian aid, medicine, and necessities have now become the direct targets of attacks.”
Oduncu also said: “For this reason, what has happened in Aleppo is clearly and indisputably a crime against humanity. The injury of dozens of civilians, including women and children, shows that the attacks are directly targeting the people. These attacks are aimed not only at civilians, but at imposing war on the Kurdish people, dismantling social organization in which women are central subjects, and eliminating Syria’s multi-identity future.”
Exposing the dark alliances in Syria
Zeynep Oduncu said the attacks targeting Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo are not only military in nature but also carry a clear ideological dimension.
Oduncu said that the attacks targeting civilian settlements inhabited by Kurds in Aleppo constitute a planned intervention aimed at undermining ongoing efforts toward resolution and dialogue in Syria.
She said these attacks are not merely a military confrontation, but carry the character of an ideological assault on the social model built in Rojava on the basis of women’s freedom and the equal, shared coexistence of peoples, adding that they do not view the targeting of these areas by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and similar structures as coincidental.
She said the targeting of civilians, women, and children across the border has created deep anger and distrust among the Kurdish public in Turkey, adding that what has happened in Aleppo is being read through Turkey’s political choices, and that conflict-driven policies are weakening hopes regarding the resolution process that has once again come onto the agenda in Turkey.
The developments in Aleppo are clearly and indisputably a crime against humanity
Zeynep Oduncu said while assessing the attacks targeting neighborhoods inhabited by Kurds in Aleppo that these developments can be regarded as neither coincidental nor a local security issue.
Oduncu also added: “What has happened in Aleppo cannot be read, from the perspective of Kurds, as coincidental or as a local security problem. These attacks took place precisely at a time when discussions on resolution, integration, and political dialogue were being conducted between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian administration. In this respect, they should be assessed as a deliberate provocation by anti-solution forces that do not want the possibility of peace in Syria to grow stronger and that feed on war and chaos.
The two neighborhoods targeted by the attacks have been subjected to sieges, embargoes, and systematic deprivation for nearly 15 years since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. Thousands of people forcibly displaced after the war in Afrin (Efrîn) are also living in these neighborhoods. Moreover, there is no military presence in these areas. Within the scope of the agreement reached on April 1, SDF forces withdrew from the area together with all their heavy weapons. Despite this, these civilians, who have been denied humanitarian aid, medicines, and necessities, have today become the direct targets of attacks.
For this reason, what has happened in Aleppo is clearly and indisputably a crime against humanity. The injury of dozens of civilians, including women and children, shows that the attacks directly target the population. These attacks aim not only at civilians, but at imposing war on the Kurdish people, dismantling forms of social organization in which women are the subjects, and eliminating Syria’s multi-identity future.”
It exposes the dark alliances in Syria
Zeynep Oduncu drew attention to the fact that the attacks targeting Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo are not only military in nature but also have an ideological dimension.
Oduncu said that the social model built in Rojava, based on women’s freedom and the equal, shared coexistence of peoples, has been turned into an open target by structures shaped by male-dominated and monolithic mindsets, adding that these attacks aim to sabotage a shared and democratic future in Syria.
She said: “The move by structures such as HTS and similar mindsets toward these areas expresses an aggressiveness that is as ideological as it is military. The Rojava experience stands against the Middle East’s male-dominated, militarist, and authoritarian political tradition; it is a rare social model that places women’s freedom and the equal, shared life of peoples at its center, and one whose cost has been paid heavily. For this reason, Rojava is an open target for structures with misogynistic and monolithic ideologies.
Indeed, footage related to the attacks contains serious indications that individuals bearing ISIS symbols are present within forces linked to Damascus. That an organization known worldwide for crimes against humanity is today attacking civilian neighborhoods in Aleppo exposes the dark alliances in Syria.
For this reason, what has happened in Aleppo reveals a clear reality regarding the future of Kurds in Syria: as peace, dialogue, and democratic solutions are strengthened, the aggression of those seeking to sabotage them increases. These attacks are directed not only at Kurds, but at the possibility of a shared, equal, and free life in Syria. Targeting this emancipatory line shaped under the leadership of the Kurdish people and women constitutes an all-encompassing threat to Syria’s future.”
It strengthens the sense that denial and annihilation policies are still in effect
Oduncu said that the targeting of civilians in Aleppo, and Kurdish settlements in particular, by armed groups has created deep concern and anger among the Kurdish public in Turkey and added:
“The fact that Kurds across the border, especially civilian settlements, are becoming targets of armed groups is creating deep concern and anger among the Kurdish public in Turkey. Every attack in which civilians, women, and children are targeted strengthens, among Kurds in Turkey, the sense that what is in effect is not a will for a solution, but that policies of denial and annihilation are still in operation.
Turkey’s relations with the Damascus administration and with certain armed groups on the ground are within public knowledge. For this reason, what has happened in Aleppo is read by the Kurdish public in Turkey not only as ‘what is happening there,’ but also through the question of what kind of political choice Turkey is making. The continuation of threatening language, military methods, and conflict-driven policies also carries the risk of seriously undermining expectations regarding the resolution process that has once again begun to be discussed in Turkey.”
This situation makes the hope for peace fragile
Zeynep Oduncu stressed that developments beyond the border must be addressed together with peace and dialogue discourse in Turkey and underlined that practices on the ground directly affect expectations among the Kurdish public regarding the resolution process.
Oduncu also said: “It must be stated clearly: Kurds assess statements about peace together with practices on the ground. While discussions on resolution, dialogue, and normalization are being conducted inside Turkey on the one hand, the siege, displacement, and targeting of Kurds just across the border on the other hand create serious question marks regarding the sincerity of these discussions. This situation makes the hope for peace fragile.
Abandoning a policy of threats and conflict and adopting a constructive and solution-oriented approach that views Kurds not as a security problem but as the principal subject of regional peace would strengthen the possibility of peace both in Syria and in Turkey. A stance that does not remain silent in the face of attacks targeting Kurds across the border but instead is based on prioritizing civilians and democratic solutions, would also increase hope among the Kurdish public in Turkey regarding the resolution process.
In short, what has happened in Aleppo directly affects discussions on resolution in Turkey. Peace requires a consistent policy. It is not possible for Kurds to be targeted in one geography and persuaded toward peace in another. If a truly lasting solution is desired, this can only be possible through a political mindset that prioritizes peace at the regional level and recognizes the existence and will of the Kurdish people.”
A lasting solution is only possible through agreements and political reason
Oduncu also assessed Turkey’s Syria policy and the relationship it has established with the regional Kurdish issue through the attacks targeting Kurds in Aleppo.
Oduncu said that a lasting resolution process can only be possible if Turkey adopts a constructive stance that prioritizes a ceasefire, dialogue, and the implementation of agreements rather than approaches that fuel conflict, and added:
“In terms of a lasting resolution process, the relationship Turkey establishes with the regional Kurdish issue is decisive. The attacks targeting Kurds in Aleppo show that Turkey’s Syria policy is still shaped within a framework that views Kurds under the heading of a ‘threat.’
It is of vital importance for Turkey to assume a constructive role in this picture. Instead of policies that deepen conflict and directly or indirectly nourish anti-Kurdish balances, a stance that encourages a ceasefire, dialogue, and the implementation of agreements will contribute both to stability in Syria and to a lasting resolution process in Turkey. Every step Turkey takes in favor of peace will strengthen the ground of trust and a shared future for all peoples in the region.
All political forces assuming responsibility for the full implementation of the March 10 agreement will serve the common interests of the peoples of Syria and the stability of the country. It is also of critical importance for Turkey to assume a constructive role in this process by prioritizing peace and dialogue rather than approaches that fuel conflict. Otherwise, the attacks targeting Kurds in Aleppo will not only continue to target civilians, but will also weaken the prospect of lasting peace in Syria.
For this reason, we call on all international forces and humanity that seek peace and stability in Syria to take a clear stance against this brutality targeting civilians, and to assume responsibility for resolving the issue on the basis of peace and dialogue and for ensuring an immediate ceasefire. A lasting solution is only possible through commitment to agreements and a political reason that takes the will of the peoples as its foundation.”