The Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) called for an international investigation and punishment into the murder of Hevrîn Xelef. The body said on Thursday that it has so far been waiting in vain for justice for the Kurdish politician, who was seen as the beacon of hope for a diverse, democratic Syria.

Hevrîn Xelef was Secretary General of the Syrian Future Party (Hizbul Suri Mustakbel), which is guided by a grassroots democratic initiative principle. On October 12, 2019, the 34-year-old was killed along with her driver near Qamişlo as part of a war of aggression by Turkey. The MSD calls for action by the international judiciary and criticizes that investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the case are long overdue. The organization emphasizes that the murder of Xelef constitutes a war crime and a particularly brutal femicide.

Members of the so-called “123 Battalion” of “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” were responsible for the murder of Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf). The jihadist militia belongs to the SNA (Syrian National Army) - a coalition of reactionary, Islamist and fundamentalist militias that is paid, equipped and trained by Ankara and, as a proxy force of the Turkish NATO partner, maintains the occupation of parts of northern and northwestern Syria.

A medical report available to ANF lists numerous injuries inflicted on Xelef by the SNA jihadists. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head, face and back and had broken bones in her face, skull and legs. Her scalp was partially peeled off because her hair had been pulled. According to the results of the autopsy, she must have still been alive when she was mutilated. Even after her death, her body was violated.

MSD: Justice for all victims of the Turkish occupation and its war crimes

"In addition to Hevrîn Xelef, the MSD also called for justice for all other victims of the Turkish occupation and its wars in Syria," the MSD said.

The body also calledfor a comprehensive system to prosecute human rights violations and war crimes in the region, including the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to prosecute perpetrators, avoid impunity, compensate victims and prevent further abuses by Turkey and its allies. "Of course, we also call on the international community, governments and parties to pay more attention to ending the Turkish occupation of Syrian territory and liberating Syria from the clutches of terrorists," the MSD continued. This concern primarily includes the demand that Turkey and its partners be prosecuted for their crimes against the population of the autonomous region of northern and eastern Syria, which have been ongoing since 2018, including the targeted destruction of infrastructure.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria had already pointed out in a report in 2020 that Turkey should be prosecuted for war crimes in Rojava and that responsible commanders of the militias under the command and control of Turkish troops should also be prosecuted. For the report, the investigative commission conducted interviews with 233 affected people and collected, reviewed and analyzed satellite images, photos, videos and medical records. She also used data from governments, NGOs and the United Nations. Those who failed to take measures to prevent such crimes could also be liable. Nothing like that has happened yet.