Protest in front of the UN in Geneva: “Where are Eva and Ahmet?”

A protest was held in Nations Square, where the United Nations (UN) Office is located in Geneva for journalists Eva Maria Michelmann and Ahmed Polat, who were in Northern Syria and have not been heard from since January 8, was organized by the “Where Are Ahmet and Eva?” Initiative. During the action, international institutions were called on to take urgent action.

In a statement in French made on behalf of the initiative, it was emphasized that the fate of hundreds of civilians, journalists, and fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has remained unknown following the attacks that have taken place in Syria since January. The statement said that the attacks on the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo violate international law and drew attention to the fact that among the missing are the German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and the Kurdish journalist Ahmed Polat.

The statement also noted that despite the prisoner exchange agreement reached on January 29 between the SDF and the Syrian transitional government, the process has been blocked by the Damascus administration. It stressed that weeks later there is still no confirmed information on whether the missing are alive, stating that “a comprehensive prisoner exchange must be implemented immediately.”

The statement recalled that some prisoners were released on March 2, but added that concerns have increased after images appeared in recent weeks showing that people captured in Rojava had been executed. It was also noted that families and relatives continue their protests in Qamishlo, demanding at least information about where the detainees are being held.

The initiative called for mass demonstrations to be organized across Europe and pointed to the political, diplomatic, and financial relations that European states maintain with the Syrian transitional government. The statement said, “As long as this support continues, the violations also continue. European public pressure must increase.”

The initiative and supporting organizations called for the expansion of protests in front of Syrian representations, especially the UN and European Union institutions, reiterating the demand that the fate of the missing be clarified and that all detainees be released.