“Get the invaders out of the land of olives”

Appealing to the countries around the world, Siltan Mihemed said, “Save our lands from the invaders and get them out of the land of olives.”

SARA ŞÊX HESEN

Aleppo- Olive tree leaves and roots have many benefits for human health. The extract of olive tree leaves, considered sacred by all religions, is used for the treatment of many diseases. Olive tree leaves and olives are used for different purposes, particularly in Aleppo and Afrin. Olive is the means of living for every family living in these cities.

The olives growing around Afrin and Aleppo are called “xelo” by local people and these olives are very large. 15% and 20% of these olives are used to make olive oil. These olives are consumed with green pepper, carrot, or lemon. People in the region began to harvest the olives in October. Siltan Mihemed is one of them, who have already begun the preparation for winter.

She told us about her old days

Siltan Mihemed told us about her olds days when she walked among olive trees;

“Now is the time for harvesting olive trees. I miss olive groves very much. We used to be very happy when it was time for harvesting olive trees. But the invaders took our olive groves from us. They easily steal and cut down them. What they are doing is a crime. No one can accept this. We cannot live without the olive trees and olives of Afrin because olive trees are like our children. We worked hard to plant and grow them. We cannot leave our olive trees to the enemy. Every year in this season, I remember old days when we walked among olive trees, had lunch and dinner under the trees, and picked olives collectively. One day, we will return.”

Preparation for winter

Siltan Mihemed feels bad when she doesn’t make preparation for winter;

“Every year we prepare olives for the winter. We used to eat olives at every meal. Now we buy olives to make preparation for the winter. We prepare xelo and mikeles olives for the winter. But you should be an expert in preparing them. There is another variety of olives; we add walnut, pepper syrup, mint, cumin, lemon, and thyme on them. First, we washed the olives and then we remove their pits. Finally, we mix them.”

Siltan Mihemed sometimes adds lemon and carrot to olives. “Each recipe has a different taste. For instance, there is a variety of olives called “Beledi”. Their taste is like the taste of olives of Afrin. You just need water, salt, and lemon to pickle them. We do this to prevent them from spoiling. There is another variety and you should often change their water. Then we add lemon, cumin, and pepper syrup. We eat them in winter.

“Get the invaders out of the land of olives”

Siltan Mihemed wants Afrin to be liberated soon in order to return to her home and olive grove. “The people of Afrin did not commit any crime, but their lands, houses, and olive groves were taken from them. We have never violated anyone's rights; Afrin is the homeland of our grandparents and their grandparents. We worked hard for our lands. I am appealing to all states; save our lands from the invaders and get them out of the land of olives.”

Ended.