ŞÊRÎN ELÎ

Shehba – During wars and conflicts, historical places are first targeted to destroy the memory of people. On December 20, 2021, the Turkish army and Turkey-backed armed factions attacked and destroyed the historical sites in the Mezin and Xirab Şemsê villages of Afrin’s Şerawa town. Thousand-year-old historical buildings were destroyed in the attacks.

“We will not leave our homeland”

55-year-old Ezîze Hisên lives in the village of Mezin. “Their aim is to destroy our history, memory. We didn’t bow to the attacks and we will never bow to them. They want to commit genocide against us and destroy our history. But we will not leave our homeland. We will not allow Erdoğan and his factions to destroy our history. The Turkish state has openly targeted civilians and historical places for years and the international powers have just watched.”

“Historical sites are targeted”

69-year-old Sîham Reşîd is from the Ehrez village of Afrin’s Şerawa town but has lived in the Mezin village for years. “We will resist as long as we can and we will stand firm. They want to erase the historical existence of the Kurds, we will not allow this. The attacks on Şemsê and Gunde Mezin were carried out with heavy artillery and historical sites were particularly targeted in the attacks,” she said.

“We will protect our memory”

40-year-old Henîfe Cimo stated that they try to overcome all difficulties and troubles they face for the future of their children. “They want to destroy the Kurdish culture. They target our historical places to destroy our history. We will keep protecting our memory no matter how much they attack,” she said.

“Sacred places have been bombed”

Leyla Hesen, the representative of Kongra Star, spoke to NuJINHA about ongoing attacks on historical places. “Women living in the Mezin village are targeted and under death risk. Recently, the historical places of the village are particularly targeted in the attacks. The sacred places of people have been bombed. The real aim of the attacks is to destroy the memory of the Kurdish people.”

Call on international organizations

Underlining that the citizens of Şêrawa do their best to now allow the destruction, Leyla Hesen called on international organizations to take steps in order to stop the destruction of the historical places.