SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- NE Syria is one of the regions most subjected to the Turkish ground and air attacks. The citizens in the region resist the attacks with their own means. The Zirgan (Abu Rasin) town of Hasakah, northeast Syria, has been continuously shelled by Turkey and its backed factions for two years. While the town and its surrounding villages have been the target of the attacks, dozens of civilians, including women and children, have been killed and injured in the attacks until now. We spoke to Delal Mehmûd, a member of the Kongra Star, and Rîm Cewher, a member of the Internal Security Forces, about the aim of the ongoing attacks.

“Women’s movements and organizations are targeted”

Emphasizing that women’s movements and organizations are first targeted in the attacks, Delal Mehmûd said, “Civilians are targeted in the attacks on our region and civilians become the victims of the invaders. Women’s movements and organizations are first targeted in the attacks. The main aim of the occupying Turkish state is to force these organizations to take steps back. The invaders also destroy nature. People, nature and stones continue to resist the attacks.”

Delal Mehmûd noted that institutions serving the people have been also targeted by attacks and continued as follows: “Targeting the institutions serving the people is a war crime. The aim of the attacks is to force the people to leave their homeland and depopulate the towns and villages. But the Turkish state cannot shake the resistance of the civilians in Zirgan despite its weapons and methods because the people in the town have united to defend their homeland. Every time they target our organization, we are more determined to strengthen our struggle against the attacks.”

“These attacks should be stopped”

Pointing to the silence of the guarantors against the ongoing attacks in the region, she said, “The presence of guarantors in the region is just for show. Russian forces patrol in Zirgan every day but unfortunately their presence is just for show, they do not fulfill their duty. We call on them to fulfill their duty and stop the ongoing attacks on civilians because women and children are killed here every day. These attacks should be stopped now.”

“The people get strength from us, we get strength from them”

Rîm Cewher, a member of the Internal Security Forces (Women’s Assayish), commented on the attacks against security checkpoints and said, “The Turkish state targets the Internal Security Forces. The Turkish state aims to scare the people with its attacks and to force the people to leave their homes. However, the will of the people is stronger than its attacks. No matter how strong the attacks are, neither we nor our people will leave here. The invaders are afraid of revolutionary women who fight against them, and educated women who empower the people. That’s why they attack women. The people get strength from us, we get strength from them.”