FİDAN ABDULLAH- HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- Turkish attacks on civilian settlements in North and East Syria continue. Due to the ongoing attacks, the civilians are subjected to rights and violations and forced displacement. The Turkish forces and Turkish-backed factions attack Sherewa and Til Rifat districts of Afrin-Shehba Canton every day by using heavy weapons. Despite the attacks on civilians, the international community remains silent.

 Fatima Al-Ali is a displaced woman of Afrin living in Shahba. Thousands of displaced people of Afrin endure difficult conditions because the Turkish state and Turkish backed factions occupied Afrin and looted our houses and orchards, she told NuJINHA.

 ‘The Turkish state is the only terrorist force in the region’

The Turkish state attacks our region by claiming, “We fight terrorism”, Fatima Al-Ali said. “We are the people of this region and witness the facts. The Turkish state is the only terrorist force in the region. It keeps committing war crimes by attacking Shahba. Thanks to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, people live together and are in solidarity with each other. For this reason, the Turkish state's threats, attacks and efforts to divide our country will not affect the people of the region.”

 ‘The authoritarian regime in Turkey has been shaken’

The Turkish state has weakened politically, militarily, diplomatically and economically, said Ayşe Bekir, another displaced woman of Afrin living in Shahba. “The authoritarian regime in Turkey has been shaken since the local elections. The Turkish state tries to canalize its internal conflicts to North and East Syria.”

Speaking about the history of the Turkish state, she said, “The history of the Ottoman Empire was full of conflicts. The Turkish state aims to revive the Ottoman Empire by killing people.” Ayşe Bekir called on all organizations saying that they defend human rights to fulfill their duties about the rights violations and crimes committed by the Turkish state. “They should stop massacres and bombardments of the Turkish state in North and East Syria. We should ensure peace together in the region.”

‘We are not afraid of the attacks’

Sadîqa Bekir is a displaced woman of Afrin living in the Til Rifat town of Shahba. She told us that they lived in Shahba to return to Afrin. “We have resisted all challenges for six years. The Turkish state has attacked Shahba and targeted civilians for six years. We resist these attacks and we are not afraid of these attacks. Our presence in Shahba will ensure our return to Afrin.”

‘Our efforts will not be in vain’

“We will not give up resisting,” said Emina İsa. “We will resist to the end to have a life with dignity. The aim of the Turkish attacks is to depopulate the region. The people of Afrin have made great efforts to return to Afrin. Our efforts will not be in vain.”