Syria’s Kurds demand international inquiry into Turkish crimes

Ali Rajab

The Syrian Yazidi Council and the Kurdistan Future Current have called on the United Nations to open an inquiry into violations committed against civilians in areas occupied by Turkey in Syria and bringing culprits to international courts.

Turkey and militias allied to it launched an onslaught on northeastern Syria on October 9, 2018.

The council and the current said in a joint statement that Turkey and militias allied to it had committed a wide range of crimes in the areas they occupied, including kidnappings, putting people in prison and changing the demographic nature of these areas.

They also confiscated land and properties and stopped the supply of drinking water to al-Hasakah, the council and the current said.

“Cessation illusions are used by Turkey to launch a comprehensive war on Kurdish regions,” the council and the current said in their joint statement.

They said Turkey changes the demography of the same regions and prevents locals from returning to their homes.

The council and the current noted instead of the native residents of the Kurdish regions, Turkey brings people who are only loyal to the Turkish state.

They called on the United Nations to shoulder its responsibilities and ensure the return of displaced Kurds to their homes.

They also asked the United Nations commit Turkey compensating the Kurds who were negatively affected by the Turkish campaign.

The council and the current also called for opening an inquiry into the crimes Turkey and its militias committed against civilians in the Kurdish regions.

Hard-headed Erdogan

In May 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would give a million people residence in the northern Syrian towns of Tell Abiad and Ras al-Ayn.

According to rights groups, militias affiliated to Turkey forced people to get out of their homes and put them in refugee camps.

The same militias gave the homes of these locals to their relatives and people who are loyal to Turkey.