Five years have passed since Turkish military forces and a coalition of Türkiye-backed Syrian armed groups took over the entire district of Afrin in northern Syria. Living under occupation, locals of Afrin have been subjected to countless violations on a daily basis. The ongoing violations and the inflicted constant fear forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes without any hope of imminent return.
The Afrin offensive was simultaneous with another by the Syrian government forces and their Russian allies against Eastern Ghouta. Regime troops and allies recaptured Ghouta from rebels, after a blistering assault, which killed hundreds and ended in a Russia and Türkiye-brokered surrender deal. The deal transferred tens of thousands of opposition fighters and original residents out of the area and resettled them in parts of Syria’s north, including Afrin.
Independent international organizations and United Nations committees documented violations of various kinds in Afrin, including killing in unlawful attacks, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, ill-treatment, torture, looting, and confiscation of property. Furthermore, hindering the return of displaced original residents, especially the Kurds, as well as acts of Turkification and demographic change have been monitored.
Lack of accountability for these grave human rights violations, in addition to the persistence of impunity make the Turkish-occupied territories completely unsafe, and do not comply with the criteria of voluntary return set by the United Nations. All this while almost 70% of Afrin’s original residents are still forcibly displaced since 2018.
In its latest report, issued on 7 March 2023, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic confirmed the continuation of arbitrary arrests and detentions by the Syrian National Army (SNA) in Afrin. The Commission confirmed that witnesses interviewed for the purpose of the report revealed cases of beating, torture, and ill-treatment in places of detention and during interrogations, with the presence of Turkish officials. In addition, the Commission’s report cited cases of civilian property seizure with reports from interviewees of being prevented from regaining access to their properties and threatened if they tried to claim them back. Furthermore, the Commission said that it continued documenting cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, perpetrated by SNA members, including of children.
As an occupying power, Türkiye has not assumed its responsibilities in areas under its influence in northern Syria, including Afrin. No real action has been taken by the Turkish authorities to ensure the protection of civilians; Türkiye rather gave its SNA proxies a free hand to commit human rights violations against the original residents of those areas. Even the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces failed to stop the human rights violations of the SNA, which supposedly operates under it. Therefore, the undersigned organizations urge the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures; to provide appropriate conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the residents of Afrin and all Syrians, to redress victims, and to punish perpetrators.
The signatory organizations make the recommendations below:
The United Nations
To cease attempts of ignoring and circumventing the situation in Afrin and other Syrian parts occupied by Türkiye, and compel the latter to assume its responsibilities as an occupying power under international law.
The Turkish Government
To stop politicizing the situation of northern Syria’s population and turning a blind eye to the human rights abuses that they have been subjected to. This is with the aim to evade recognizing the Turkish presence in Syria as an occupation; which has been already proven by international committees and human rights organizations citing Türkiye’s effective and direct control over northern Syrian territories.
To take all measures – within its authority – necessary to ensure public safety and order and provide special protection for women and children in the areas under its control and stop the gross violations of human rights that its forces and allied militias continue to commit against civilians.
The Human Rights Council/The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic: To provide a comprehensive and accurate briefing on the intertwined web of roles and interests of all foreign/external powers intervening in the Syrian conflict, and its reflection on the state of compliance with the International humanitarian law (IHL) international human rights law (IHRL).
Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:
Act for Afrin
Adil Center for Human Righits
Afrin Platform
Afrinpost Network
AIN SHAMS Organization
ALAHD Organization
Allied for Peace
Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
Al-Zajel Organization
Amal Al-Furat organization
Amal For Development
Analysis and Strategic Study Organization ASO
Anwar Al-Ghad Organization
Aras Charity Association
Areej Organisation
Ashti Center for Peacebuilding
Assyrian Society for Helping and Development
AYADI Moubsra Organization
Azdehar Organization
Balsam Organization For Development
Better Life Organization
Better Tomorrow Organization
Center Defanse
Clemency Organization
Community Solidarity Organaization
DAN for Relief and Development
dari Center
Dawlaty
Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
Dya Al Aml Association
Ebdaa Organization for Development
Edraak Organization for Development and Peace
Enlil Center
Enma aljazera Organization
Environment and Water Association (EWAS)
Espoir Afrin
Eternity
Euphrates NGO
Ezdina Organization
Fariq Snnae al Mustaqbal
FDO Organization
For Feminist
For Them Organisation
Friends Charity Association
Green Women’s Association
Happy land
Hdf Humanitarian
Hevy for Relief and Development
Hope Makers
House of Citizenship Organisation
Human Hope Team
Human Rights organizations Afrin – Syria
Human Rigts Organizatin In Jazeera
Humanitarian and Development Cooperation
Iwaa organizations
Jian Charity Association
Kesksyi Organization
Khutwa Association
Kurdische Gemeinschaft Herne ASO
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights (RASSED)
Kurdish Cultural Association of Geneva
Kurdish Feminist Voices
Kurdish Organization for Human Rights in Syria (DAD)
Laila Initiative
Lelun Association for Victims
Lights for Development and Construction
Manara Organization
Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
Max Vison
Nama Organization
Nasmet Amal
Nujin Society for Community
Okkaz
Oxygen Shabab
PEACE SHE LEADERS NET WORK
Peace tent
PÊL- CIVIL WAVES
Purity Organization
Qadar Organization
QRD Organization
Qudwa Organization for Building and Development
Ras Al Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
Reng fore development
Rescue and Relief taem
RFD Organization
Rights Defense Initiative
RojHilat for Relief and Development
Rose for Support and Empowerment
ORG
Sara Organization To Combat Violence Against Women
Sawaed Development Organization
Scsd
Shar for development
Share for Community Development
Shawshka Women’s Association
Shilan Association for Relief and Development
Silav Organization for Civil Activities
Society for Threatened Peoples GfbV/STP
Stability Support Centre
Synergy Association for Victims
Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
Syrian Cancer Society
Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network
Syrians for Truth and Justice
Taa marbouta
Tara Organization
Tel Abyad Forum for Civil Society
The Leading Woman
The Levant News
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression
Weqaya Association
Wheat Olive Platfrom
Women for Peace
Women of Hope
Youth For Change
Youth Optimistic
Zakon Organization
Zameen for Development and Peacebuilding
