The recent surge in attacks and violations against civilians in the Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafieh (Eşrefiyê) neighborhoods of Aleppo (Haleb) was discussed at a meeting held in the United Kingdom Parliament and organized by the Centre for Kurdish Progress and the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) United Kingdom Representation. The meeting took place in the parliamentary building and was hosted by Labour Party Member of Parliament Kate Osborne.
The speakers included Labour Members of Parliament Feryal Clark and Bambos Charalambous, UNITE Trade Union International Director Simon Dubbins, former British diplomat and writer Carne Ross, and Dr. Mohamed Moustafa, the SDC United Kingdom Representative.
Feryal Clark: Unacceptable
Labour Party MP Feryal Clark said that what is unfolding in Aleppo has gone beyond a military confrontation and turned into a civilian catastrophe. Clark stressed that the targeting of neighborhoods such as Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh with heavy weapons is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Clark said they would raise the issue with Hamish Falconer, the United Kingdom Minister for the Middle East, adding that the government must take a clearer stance on the protection of civilians.
Charalambous: A political and moral responsibility toward the Kurds
Labour Party MP Bambos Charalambous stressed that the relationship built with the Kurdish people and forces during the fight against ISIS created a political and moral responsibility. Charalambous said, “In the struggle against ISIS, the Kurdish community in Syria undertook sacrifices that we could not have made ourselves. The friendship forged at that time must be honored and must continue today.”
Charalambous said that the interim governing structures that have emerged in Syria also carry responsibilities alongside processes such as international recognition and the lifting of sanctions and added, “These structures must act in line with the expectations of the West, first and foremost by ensuring the protection of all communities.” He said that attacks against the Druze, Alawites, Kurds and other minorities cannot be ignored.
Dubbins: Turkey is deepening the crisis
Simon Dubbins, International Director of the UNITE Trade Union, shared his assessments on the future of the SDF and regional developments. Recalling that a significant portion of the SDF is made up of women, Dubbins said that any attempt to forcibly dismantle or reshape this structure would carry serious security and human rights risks.
Dubbins also referred to the talks being held between the Turkish government and Abdullah Öcalan, saying that Turkey’s military and political pressure on North and East Syria is directly linked to the attacks in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo.
Dubbins said, “Pressure on Rojava is part of a broader policy aimed at weakening the political will of the Kurds and other peoples,” and added that what is happening in Aleppo is one of the on-the-ground expressions of this policy.
Dr. Moustafa: This is a humanitarian, not a military, disaster
Dr. Mohamed Moustafa, the SDC United Kingdom Representative, said that the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods were being targeted with heavy weapons. He stressed that these areas are home to civilians who have already been displaced many times, and that the attacks are directly targeting civilian life.
Moustafa said, “People in these areas are working; children are going to school, and despite all the difficulties they are trying to maintain their daily lives. But the latest attacks leave no safe space for civilians,” warned that the silence of the international community could pave the way for new humanitarian catastrophes.
Carne Ross: The democratic model is under systematic pressure
Former British diplomat and writer Carne Ross said that the pluralistic and democratic model being developed in North and East Syria is being deliberately targeted. Referring to his long-standing work with Independent Diplomat, which advises democratic political movements, Ross said the model being built in the region is under sustained military and political pressure.
Ross said that the Rojava experience offers an important alternative not only for the Kurds but also for the future of Syria, which is why it continues to face constant military and political attacks.
Call to the international community
At the end of the meeting, the speakers stressed that the international community must take a more active role in protecting civilians in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo. They called for urgent diplomatic initiatives to halt the attacks, ensure humanitarian access, and prevent a new wave of displacement.