RONAHÎ NÛDA

Qamishlo- On January 20, 2018, the Turkish state and Turkey-backed factions attacked Afrin and occupied the city in March. Since the occupation of the Turkish state, many rights violations have been committed against the people of Afrin; olive trees in Afrin were cut down and sold to other countries, thousands of people were forced to leave their homeland. Most of the displaced people of Afrin have settled in the Shahba Canton and they hope to return to their homeland. Recently, the Turkish state has deployed the members of Jabhat al-Nusra in Afrin. NuJINHA spoke to Hêvî Mistefa, member of the Afrin Peoples’ Assembly about this change.

“It aims to attack the region by using the members of Jabhat al-Nusra”

Indicating that many Turkey-backed terrorist groups were involved in the attacks on Afrin, Hêvî Mistefa said, “These groups actually carry terrorist activities under different names. When the Turkish state attacked Afrin to occupy it, the world only watched. For four years, Turkey-backed factions have committed many crimes; they have looted the properties of civilians, stolen their belongings, kidnaped and killed civilians and destroyed historical structures. Recently, the Turkish state has deployed the members of Jabhat al-Nusra. It aims to attack the region by using them.”

“The states have remained silent because of their own interests”

Adding that the states have remained silent against the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region because of their own interests, Hêvî Mistefa said, “We do not see the states and groups that support the Turkish state as revolutionary. The silence and interventions of neighboring states have caused the revolution in Syria to turn into a terrorist revolution. They also lead the Turkish state to see its attacks on Syria as legitimate. The states that have remained silent are responsible for the ongoing chaos in Syria.”

“The Turkish state has deployed terrorists to Afrin”

Speaking about relationship between the Turkish state and Jabhat al-Nusra, Hêvî Mistefa said, “The Turkish state is the one spreading terrorism and supporting the terrorists in the region. When the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria was declared, no single bullet was fired from Afrin. Before the Turkish state attacked Afrin, the people of Afrin always welcomed everyone fleeing the war and supported the displaced people. However, the Turkish state and Turkey-backed factions attacked Afrin. Now, the Turkish state has deployed terrorists to Afrin under the name of Jabhat al-Nusra. The Turkish state aims to occupy peaceful places in the region by using these terrorists.”

“It aims to spread the ideology of ISIS again”

“The change of factions in Afrin is a signal of a greater danger,” Hêvî Mistafa said, “This change is a great threat for all cities, towns and villages in North and East Syria. The people of Rojava Kurdistan defeated ISIS and saved the world. But the Turkish state aims to spread the ideology of ISIS again in the region. It aims to create a new chaos by using Jabhat al-Nusra and destroy the system in the region.”

“We should be the voices of women in Afrin”

Commenting on the attacks and crimes against women in Afrin, she said:

“Before the occupation of Afrin, Afrin was known as a canton. The head of the canton was a woman and the YPJ was formed there. The number of women was higher than men’s in all organizations and institutions. When the battle started in Afrin, women played an important role in protecting their homeland and people. The resistance of Avêsta and Barîn is known by everyone. When the attacks on Afrin started, the Turkey-backed functions particularly attacked women. Since Afrin was occupied, the women of Afrin have been the victims of harassment, forced marriage, torture in custody and many inhuman practices and war crimes. We should be the voices of women in Afrin.”