The Democratic Union Party (PYD) issued a statement on the 8th anniversary of Afrin’s occupation by the occupying Turkish state and affiliated armed groups. The statement on Wednesday includes the following:
“We condemn the occupation of the city of Afrin by the occupying Turkish state and its affiliated radical groups on its 8th anniversary. This followed a large-scale military onslaught that targeted one of the safest and most stable regions in Syria. At the same time, this area had served as a refuge for tens of thousands of Syrians who had been displaced by the war. Afrin was governed by its people under the model of Democratic Autonomous Administration, representing an important experience of coexistence and peace in Syria.
The attack on Afrin lasted 58 days. During this period, the local people put up historic and heroic resistance against a massive military force that used various types of weapons, including internationally prohibited ones.
This process took place in an atmosphere shaped by an understanding between Russia and Turkey, a questionable international silence, and the clear inaction of the Syrian regime at the time. The regime took no concrete steps against the occupation of part of Syrian territory.
The occupation of Afrin, also known as the ‘City of Olives,’ led to the forced displacement of its indigenous population, serious violations against civilians, and the systematic destruction of the region’s natural, cultural, and historical heritage.
Policies of demographic change and daily violations continue
Eight years have passed since the occupation of Afrin, yet the region continues to face systematic policies of demographic change and daily violations against its indigenous population. These violations include property confiscation, arbitrary detention, abduction, and coercion, all of which are seen as part of a clear effort to erase the region’s identity and alter its social and historical fabric.
A policy of punishment against the people of Afrin
While living in camps in Shehba and Tel Rifat, the people of Afrin faced yet another humanitarian disaster. Due to continued pressure, they were once again subjected to forced displacement, which reflects a continuing policy of punishment against the resilient people of Afrin.
The forcibly displaced population faced attacks, killings, and threats along the road between Shehba and Tabqa. This constitutes a clear violation of all humanitarian laws and conventions.
The neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah were also subjected to military attacks involving the use of various heavy weapons. As a result of these attacks, massacres were carried out against the people of Afrin and civilians living in these two neighborhoods; violations such as forced displacement and the detention of innocent civilians also occurred. The fate of many of those detained remains unknown, and there has been no accountability.
As part of ongoing violations, attacks targeting North and East Syria have triggered a new wave of displacement. Thousands of Afrin residents were once again forced to migrate from the regions of Tabqa and Raqqa to the cities of Heseke and Qamishlo. The number of forcibly displaced people has exceeded 170,000.
This tragic picture reveals the extent of the ongoing suffering endured by the people of Afrin due to occupation policies and war.
Returning Afrin residents continue to face serious challenges
Following the agreement reached on January 29 between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, the SDF, and the Syrian transitional government, the first convoy returning to Afrin departed from the Heseke Canton. The return of forcibly displaced Afrin residents will continue on the basis of voluntariness and security. However, the departure of the second convoy was postponed for logistical reasons, and a new date will be set later.
Despite this, returning Afrin residents continue to face serious challenges. One of the main issues is that their homes and properties are still occupied by some settlers and armed groups. This situation requires urgent intervention by the relevant authorities to restore the legitimate rights of property owners and to remove unlawful occupants.
The suffering of the past eight years is not merely a regional issue
On this painful anniversary, we in the PYD once again express our solidarity with the people forcibly displaced from Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî. We call on the international community and relevant parties to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities, to put pressure on the occupying Turkish state to end the occupation of Syrian territories, to stop ongoing violations, and to ensure the dignified and safe return of all forcibly displaced people to their homes.
The suffering of the people of Afrin over the past eight years is not merely a regional issue, but also a matter of justice, human rights, and the dignity of a people who have endured years of war and displacement.
Afrin will continue to be a symbol of resistance and the right of its people to return to their land and homes is a legitimate right that cannot be ignored.”
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