RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- The people of Serêkaniyê (Ras al-Ayn) have been subjected to crimes against humanity since the city was occupied by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions; women and children have been killed, attacked and tortured. In the city, the holy places were looted and destroyed just like the houses and property of the people. One million people have been resettled in Serêkaniyê from outside the city.

On September 27, 2021, the Sêrekaniyê Committee on Migration and Displaced Persons was established to document the crimes committed by the Turkish state in the city. The committee consisting of 35 people has four women's and children's schools and research, communication and service units. NuJINHA spoke to Zehra Semo, member of the committee, about the activities of the committee.

‘The occupation took place due to an international agreement and approval’

Pointing out that the occupation took place in the city due to an international agreement and approval, Zehra Semo said, “The city had been attacked many times before the occupation. In 2012, Turkish-backed factions attacked the city; however, they failed. In 2019, the Turkish state attacked the city by using artillery and warplanes. Despite the attacks on the city, the international community remained silent. After that silence, an agreement was signed to loot and destroy the houses and property of the residents, to kill and force the residents to displace and to change the demographic structure of the city. The occupation of Serêkaniyê is the continuation of the Sykes-Picot agreement and the Treaty of Lausanne.”

‘We aim to document the crimes against humanity’

Zehra Semo stated that one of the main aims of the establishment of the Serêkaniyê Committee on Migration and Displaced Persons is to monitor the situation of migrants and displaced persons in the occupied areas.

“The aim of the committee is to expose the crimes committed by the Turkish state in Serêkaniyê. The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have committed many crimes against humanity in the city. Despite that, the international community has kept silent. We want to document the reality in Serêkaniyê, in order not to remain silent about the attacks and violence against women and killing of women. We have been documenting the difficulties faced by the displaced persons.”

‘They want to break the strong will of women’

Emphasizing that women and children are the most vulnerable in wars and conflicts, Zehra Semo said, “Women live in the most difficult conditions. In addition, they wage a great struggle to return to their homes and city and they shoulder this heavy burden. In the occupied areas, women are beaten, killed, attacked and raped. The enemy wants to break the strong will of women because it is afraid of women.”

‘Serêkaniyê must be liberated’

“Serêkaniyê must be liberated,” said Zehra Semo. “Currently, 47 people, mostly women and children, are held in the Turkish state’s prisons in Serêkaniyê. A few days ago, two women and two children were killed in the city. In the city, the property of the people have been looted, the historical and holy places have been destroyed, and the families of the factions have been settled in order to distort the facts and the history of the city.

Speaking about the people staying in the Serêkaniyê and Washokani IDPs camps, she said, “The displaced people staying in these camps have been ignored by humanitarian aid organizations. In both camps, there are old women who need help, women suffering from serious illnesses, disabled and sick children. However, they receive no help from anyone. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) does its best to help them but the number of displaced persons is very high. The Turkish state has also waged a water war against the people of Hasakah. This is a crime against humanity. We will keep working for the displaced people of Serêkaniyê so that they will return to their homeland. We will expose the crimes committed by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in the city.”