ŞÊRÎN MIHEMED

Qamishlo- The Syrian Organization for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented human rights violations and attacks by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions on North and East Syria in 2024. 25 women and 45 children were killed in Turkish drone strikes, and 14 people, including women and children were kidnapped in the region, according to the organization.

Killing, looting, theft, kidnapping…

The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions intensified their attacks on North and East Syria in 2024, said Evin Cuma, one of the executives of the SOHR, stressing that the attacks causes various human rights violations, including killing, looting, theft, kidnapping and execution against people in Manbij and Shahba.

Evin Cuma recalled the attacks on Afrin/Shahba canton of North and East Syria and said, “The Turkish-backed factions surrounded the Afrin/Shahba canton and committed crimes against humanity. As known, Shahba was a city, hosting thousands of displaced people of Afrin. The displaced people of Afrin, who took shelter in Shahba, were displaced for a second time by the Turkish attacks. They were subjected to looting, kidnapping and insults by Turkish-backed factions while fleeing to safe areas. Those who could not leave in Shahba are subjected to the atrocity of these factions.”

‘The aim is to change the demographic structure of the region’

The Turkish state aims to expand its territory and change the demographic structure of the region (North and East Syria), Evin Cuma indicated. “The Turkish state aims to revive the Ottoman Empire. We have documented the right violations committed by the Turkish state in 2024 and the Turkish attacks on the region still continue. In 2024, the region suffered from power outages due to the Turkish attacks on the Tishreen Dam. The attacks on the dam are crimes against humanity. The attacks on power and water facilities pose a threat to the villages near the dam and the situation in the region.”

‘A joint effort by human rights organizations is needed to document rights violations’

Evin Cuma concluded her speech as follows: “We do our best to document rights violations in the region while civilians suffer from executions, forced displacements and attacks. We will send the rights violations documented by us to international human rights organizations, the United Nations and the International Commision of Inquiry. A joint effort by human rights organizations is needed to document rights violations against the people of North and East Syria.”