Evîn Cuma: The oppression in Efrin should not be kept silent any longer

  • actual
  • 14:02 12 September 2023
  • |
img
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
 

View More Articles

01/01/2024
16:26 Detained journalist Yalçın will be brought to the prosecution tomorrow
16:25 'Book' investigation into prisoners
15:39 'Prisoners are determined in their actions'
13:03 Mother of prisoner at risk of cancer: Let us get her treated
12:05 UCAV attack in Silêmaniyê
10:21 No news from journalist detained by KDP for 69 days
10:15 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan' action is on its 36th day
31/12/2023
15:14 Application from 1,025 lawyers for 'Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan'
14:02 2 young people from DEM Party detained
13:57 'We will continue the hunger strike with determination'
11:53 No news from journalist detained by KDP for 68 days
11:52 Hunger stike action of prisoners is on its 35th day
11:52 From prisoners to MPs: Visit prisons
11:34 Prisoner relatives: Problems will be solved with Öcalan
11:19 Justice Sit-in for a free and honorable life
11:04 Imam Deniz: Exposing of bodies is barbarism
30/12/2023
21:39 Demanding for release of 80-year-old ill prisoner with 93 percent disability
20:07 QSD: Turkey claimed responsibility for the attack carried out by ISIS
17:02 Aktaş is not released despite the reports that ‘he cannot stay in prison’
16:55 Release of 13 prisoners prevented in Karabük Type T
14:58 A Kurd died as a result of torture in Iran
12:44 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan' action is on its 34th day
29/12/2023
13:12 Blockade in Hespist village is on its 9th day
13:11 Iranian regime executed 3 Kurdish political prisoners
12:56 Meeting application from Abdullah Öcalan's family and trustee
12:31 Journalist Karabay detained again
12:23 No news from journalist detained by KDP for 66 days
12:22 Hunger strike of prisoners is on its 33nd day
12:07 Karakaş been participating in the Justice Sit-in for 13 day for demands of prisoners
11:57 Şenlik: We will not take a step back until Abdullah Öcalan is freed
11:23 Karak participated the hunger strike action like his uncle who died on death fast
09:31 Journalist Hakan Yalçın detained
09:30 Many politicians detained in Sêrt
28/12/2023
17:41 'Justice will not be secured in Turkey unless the Roboski Massacre is clarified'
16:46 Meeting application from Asrın Law Firm for Abdullah Öcalan
16:44 A child injured in Turkish bombardment
16:43 Hunger strike of prisoners is on its 32nd day
15:27 Journalist İbrahim: Türkiye is targeting Northern and Eastern Syria as it gets stuck
15:17 Lawyer Karataş: The voice of Abdullah Öcalan should reach the public
13:57 Kuruş: Gang structures are not independent of the government's policies
13:25 Rights defenders want a solution to the Kurdish issue
12:25 Memorial statue for Roboski awaiting justice
12:15 No rights left that were not abused in the prisons
27/12/2023
15:56 Call from Hunger Strikes Monitoring General Coordination: Take action
14:34 Rural areas of 9 neighborhoods in Nisêbîn banned
14:33 Prisoner on hunger strike: No one can make the Kurds forgotten Mr. Öcalan
14:19 Message from a prisoner on hunger strike
14:18 Prisoners expect solidarity to grow
13:50 Those who support the Justice Sit-in: Abdullah Öcalan should be free
13:48 What did the CPT say about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 'cooperation' response?