RAPARİN BAKER

Shahba- The Turkish state launched a military operation into Afrin on January 20, 2018. It occupied Afrin on March 18, 2018 by using disproportionate force and killing civilians. After the 58-day resistance against the occupying Turkish state, about 300,000 people had to leave Afrin due to brutal practices of the Turkish state in the city.  Fatma Horik, who witnessed the 58-day resistance, told NuJINHA what had happened in Afrin.

 ‘It was a planned conspiracy’

50-year-old Fatma Horik, mother of seven, told us that women led the Resistance of the Age. “The People’s Defense Unit waged a resistance of the age in Afrin alongside with women. The attacks on Afrin by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions was a ‘planned conspiracy’. The silence of countries involved in the Syrian crisis proved that they had a deal with the occupiers,” she told us.

 ‘Such a resistance was not expected’

Commenting about the support of the people of Afrin to the Resistance of the Age, Fatma Horik said, “Afrin is located in a small region. The occupying Turkish state attacked Afrin because the city is known for its riches and archaeological sites. When the Turkish state launched the military operation into Afrin with the support of Turkish-backed factions, it did not expect such a resistance. Some news outlets claimed that Afrin would be occupied in several days; however, the people of Afrin resisted for 58 days. The resistance of people destroyed the plan of the Turkish state.”

 ‘My sons also fought’

Speaking about the role of women in the resistance, Fatma Horik said, “On the first day of the attack, women and all the people took action to resist the attacks. I resisted alongside the fighters by helping the wounded and providing logistic support. Our aim was to prevent the Turkish forces from entering our city. I supported the people of Afrin by taking part in the resistance. My sons also fought; my three sons fought the Turkish forces and Turkish-backed factions. We will continue to resist such brutal policies.”

‘Civilians were targeted’

Speaking about brutal attacks against civilians, she said, “The Turkish state used its entire means, including heavy weapons and warplanes to occupy Afrin while the people had only light weapons. Even animals were killed in the Turkish attacks. Every neighborhood of Afrin resisted the attacks. Kafri Kar was one of the most famous areas of resistance in the Raju district. We resisted there and many of our comrades were martyred there. The Turkish state, which could not take the control of the Kavri Kar area, began to burn the bodies of its mercenaries. When the Turkish forces understood that they would be defeated, they began to target civilians; they killed many civilians. While the Turkish forces used all kinds of war methods against our people, all human rights organizations remained silent.”

 ‘We have resisted all difficulties’

Fatma Horik told us that she never forgot a moment of the resistance. “After days of resistance, I went to the village of Bilko with fighters. When we arrived there, I was told that one person wanted to see me. I followed the fighters to see who wanted to see me. When I entered the room, I saw my son, who fought alongside the defense forces. After seeing my son, I felt stronger. We have resisted all difficulties to return to Afrin and we will always resist until we return to Afrin.”