BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanê – On March 18, 2018, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions occupied the Afrin Canton of North and East Syria. For six years, many women have been killed, tortured, kidnapped and raped in Afrin; the demographic structure of Afrin has been changed and its historical artifacts have been looted. 21,500,000 trees have been cut down in Afrin by the Turkish-backed factions since 2018, according to a report prepared by the Ecology Committee of Afrin/Shahba Canton. In an interview with NuJINHA, Almaz Romî, Co-chair of the committee, talked about the figures in the report.

‘The people of Afrin resisted for 58 days’

Recalling the operation launched by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in January 2018 to occupy Afrin, Almaz Romî said, “YPJ/YPG fighters and the people of Afrin resisted them for 58 days. The Turkish state used the heaviest weapons and warplanes to occupied Afrin, killing many civilians. Since then, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have committed crimes against humanity in Afrin. Since they took control of Afrin, they have destroyed the nature and history of Afrin by cutting down trees, looting its historical artifacts and places, displacing thousands, attacking the culture and language of the people in Afrin. Since 2018, hundreds of displaced families of Afrin have been enduring difficult living conditions in IDPs camps in order to return to their homeland one day.”

21,500,000 trees cut down in Afrin

The Turkish state has committed many crimes in Afrin, Almaz Romî stressed, adding, “Afrin was famous for its nature, trees and fruits; it was even called as heaven. After occupying Afrin, the Turkish state first targeted the nature of Afrin. The century-old trees in Afrin were planted and grown by our grandparents. The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have tortured people and destroyed nature in Afrin. Since 2018, 21,500,000 trees have been cut down in Afrin by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions. Afrin had hundreds of cherry trees before it was occupied but now it has no cherry trees.”

‘The whole world remains silent against the crimes committed by the Turkish state’

Condemning the silence of the international community against the crimes committed in Afrin, she said, “The whole world remains silent against the crimes committed in Afrin by the Turkish state. There are many organizations, individuals and movements claiming that they protect and defend nature and environment; however, they remain silent against the destruction of nature in Afrin. We witness that the whole world turns a blind eye to the realities in the regions occupied by the Turkish state, and many countries even support the Turkish state.”

‘Many people do not leave their homeland’

Despite all the crimes committed in Afrin, many people do not leave their homeland, Almaz Romî, emphasized. “They do not leave Afrin although they are subjected to many inhuman practices such as oppression, torture, threats, kidnapping and arrests.

“Despite all the rights violations, they do not want to leave their homeland. We call on everyone, especially Kurdish people, not to remain silent against the crimes committed against the people and nature of Afrin. We should not allow the territories of Kurdistan to be looted.”