SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- North and East Syria has been suffering from a civil war and crisis for 12 years. Aiming to take advantage of this crisis, the Turkish state tries to implement its National Pact plan. Despite the earthquakes that struck Turkey, Kurdistan and Syria, the Turkish state continues to carry out its genocidal attacks on the areas under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

NuJINHA spoke to Corcêt Bersûm, president of Syriac Women’s Union (SWU) in Syria, about the ongoing attacks of the Turkish state, which committed a genocide against her people, on North and East Syria.

‘The Turkish state has provoked and deepened the Syrian crisis’

Underling that the Turkish state has deepened the Syrian crisis, Corcêt Bersûm said, “The Turkish state has been playing an important role in deepening the conflicts since the beginning of the conflicts in Syria. In addition to its ongoing attacks on Syria, the Turkish state has provided weapons to many armed groups. The aim of the Turkish state is to change the democratic revolution in North and East Syria. This attitude of the Turkish state has turned this revolution into an armed revolution. People from different nations and religions in Syria were forcibly displaced. Then, many regions were occupied. People have faced the attempts to change the demographic structure of their regions, killing, kidnapping, torture and annihilation policies. We know very well that Turkey's relations with Syria are based on the revival of the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, the Turkish state attacks the people of Syria like wolves. The Turkish state keeps attacking although it violates all international conventions and agreements.”

‘It continues to attack our region despite the earthquakes’

Noting that two major earthquakes caused serious damages both in Turkey and North and East Syria, Corcêt Bersûm said, “The Turkish state continued to attack our region despite the earthquakes. This earthquake and disaster turned into political issues. Dead bodies remained under the rubble for days. Despite that, the Turkish state kept attacking; it launched airstrikes on strategic points, service centers and villages. Its aim is to force people to leave their homeland and complete its genocidal policy.”

‘The incident on February 25 grew our solidarity’

Recalling the incident in Qamishlo on February 25, Corcêt Bersûm said, “The monuments of our martyrs who were killed in the Sayfo genocide were damaged by unknown persons. Undoubtedly, those who are against our Democratic Nation project will attack our sacred places. These monuments are sacred places for us. Our martyrs are those who were killed during the Sayfo genocide committed by the Ottoman forces against Syriac (Assyrian) people in the 19th century and in the massacres carried out by the Turkish state in the 20th century. The aim of the attacks on our monuments were to sow discord among Kurdish, Christian and Yazidi communities. Their aim was to destroy the solidarity among them. However, this incident grew our solidarity because we know very well who attacked our monuments.”

 

‘We can struggle together’

Emphasizing that they still feel the pain left by the Sayfo genocide and the Simele massacre, Corcêt Bersûm said, “We are the grandchildren of grandparents, who survived the Sayfo genocide and the Simele massacre. The wound left by them is still bleeding; it has not been healed and will never be forgotten. The stance of Kurdish people and the Autonomous Administration against the Sayfo and Simele showed that they respect the religions and beliefs of other peoples and are in solidarity with them. In addition, our trust in the self-government system has been strengthened so that we can struggle together to get the rights of all the oppressed.”

 ‘Erdoğan must be prosecuted’

Noting that Turkey’s President Erdoğan must be prosecuted for his war crimes in North and East Syria, Corcêt Bersûm said, “We will heal our wounds but we demand those who are responsible for the massacres be prosecuted. Erdoğan has committed many crimes against humanity. Erdoğan must be prosecuted and held accountable.

‘Women have the same cause’

“The cause of the Syriac people is the same cause of the oppressed people. We take strength from each other and struggle together. If we protect the rights of Syriac women, we will protect the rights of all women because women have the same cause. Maybe history repeats itself, but today we are stronger than before, our struggle becomes the pillar of the women's defense system.”