RIHA - Evin Cuma, director of the Cizre Region Human Rights Organization, drew attention to the rights violations taking place in Efrin and called on human rights organizations to "No longer remain silent against oppression."

 

Efrin(Afrin), known as the science city of Northern and Eastern Syria, which Turkey attacked with paramilitary groups on January 20, 2018, became the center of human rights violations within 5 years. The Kurds, who had to leave the city due to Turkey's attacks, were replaced by families of paramilitary groups. The city, where there has been a serious increase in crimes such as rape, kidnapping, ransom and murder, has also been blockaded with military base areas. According to the data of Afrin Human Rights Organization; In August, 62 people, including 6 women, were kidnapped and one woman was raped. In the 5 years when the city was captured by Turkey and its paramilitary forces, 99 women were murdered by paramilitary groups and 74 women were raped.

 

Evaluating the increase in rights violations in Efrin, where Kurdish, neighborhood, village and street names have been translated into Turkish, Evin Cuma, director of the Northern and Eastern Syria Cizire Region Human Rights Organization, said that the Kurds remaining in Afrin are under the threat of paramilitary forces.

 

'THE HOUSES OF PEOPLE WERE SEIZED'

 

Stating that paramilitary groups affiliated with Turkey have seized people's homes in Efrin, Cuma said: "The people who have not migrated are under the threat of these groups. Afrin is under blockade by Turkey and affiliated paramilitary groups. Due to the blockade, the people cannot access the products that they can sustain their lives on. They have to make a living only through agriculture, but since half of their properties have been confiscated by the gangs, it is very difficult for them to make a living. People cannot access fuel due to the blockade. Last winter, a child died due to cold. Life in Efrin is quite difficult. Many families who returned to Efrin had to migrate again."

 

WOMEN ARE UNDER THREAT

 

Drawing attention that women are most exposed to the pressure and threat of paramilitary groups, Cuma said: “Hundreds of women were detained, kidnapped and murdered in Afrin. Many women who were kidnapped and detained were raped by gangs. Many women who were taken from their families in the name of marriage were sold into slavery by gangs. Many families who opposed this situation were either tortured or murdered. Women were prohibited from going out alone and without a chador. Women who want to take part in non-governmental organizations against the oppression of women are subjected to pressure and threats, which is why many non-governmental organizations in Afrin are religious structures and consist only of men."

 

CHILDREN ARE BEING KIDNAPPED

 

Stating that prisoners were murdered and raped in Afrin prisons, Cuma said: "Many women who were raped gave birth in prisons. The prisoners cannot even meet their basic needs in prisons. The prisoners who lost their lives in prison were also buried in the prison. Children of Kurdish families living in Afrin are kidnapped by gangs. Most of the kidnapped people returned to the city upon the promises of ENKS, which acts together with Turkey in the region and is known for its closeness to the KDP. If a person lives alone, they are murdered by gangs and their house is confiscated. Those who want to emigrate due to the pressure they experience have to pay a large amount of money to the gangs. Dozens of Kurdish families were kidnapped and disappeared in Afrin."

 

'TURKISH STATE WANT TO TURKIFY EFRIN'

 

Stating that Turkey wants to Turkify Efrin, Cuma said: “They changed the demography of Efrin. Religious education is given only in Arabic and Turkish in schools. Kurdish is prohibited. In order to eliminate the Kurdish language and culture, they changed Kurdish street, neighborhood and village names and turned them into Turkish. Turkish is spoken in Efrin, they want to connect Efrin to Turkey. Turkey's governor is currently running Efrin. Efrîn's olives, trees and nature were plundered by gangs."

 

'THIS OPPRESSION SHOULD NOT BE KEPT SILENT'

 

Condemning the silence of international human rights organizations regarding the rights violations in Efrin, Cuma continued: “Many human rights organizations came to Efrin and prepared reports. They documented the rights violations occurring here in their reports. However, they did nothing against these violations. All of them already have centers in Turkey. They do not want to disrupt relations with Türkiye because of their interests. Some institutions affiliated with Turkey settled them in Efrin to change the demographics of Efrin, saying 'we are sending the migrating people to their own lands'. All institutions that defend human rights must speak out against what is happening in Efrin, this oppression should not be kept silent."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş