In a written statement on the fourth anniversary of the Turkish state's invasion of Afrin in March 2018, the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) called on the international community to condemn the crimes committed by the Turkish state.

International forces accept the violence of the Turkish state

TEV-DEM's statement is as follows:

“It has been four years since Afrin was occupied by the Turkish state and its mercenaries. Hundreds of gang groups who gave themselves scary names settled there to intimidate the people. This happened under the direct observation of the Turkish state. Afrin residents are subjected to immoral crimes every day just because they are Kurds. Difficult living conditions are imposed, and their resources are confiscated as well as their properties. The international community has turned a blind eye to the brutality of the Turkish state. It gave the opportunity to invade Afrin, the safest and most stable place. The same scenario is repeated in Ukraine today.

'Terror Center'

The invaders have turned Afrin into a militarization center for terror and gangs. There are kidnappings, murders and violations of rights every day. Afrin, its nature and its people have become prisoners of gang groups and the Turkish state. A large budget has been allocated by Turkey to carry out a demographic change. Turkey built bases where gangs will be placed. We see this as a Turkish project ready to explode against the will of the peoples of the region.

The people of Afrin resisted for 58 days to protect their land, values and cultural history. They fought against the advanced weapons and techniques of the great states in a way that could be defined as the 'Epochal Resistance'. To avenge their defeat, they force our people to live under terror.

'End the occupation'

First [Turkey] forced the people to either die or surrender through mass murder, ethnic genocide and arrests in Afrin. Then they attacked the refugees living in the camps in Shehba. They take advantage of the bombardment, the policies of the Damascus government, and international silence. This also reduces the responsibility of law within the international community system.

We call on the world public opinion, human rights organizations, non-governmental organizations, women's and children's organizations to condemn the crimes committed by the Turkish state and take an immediate stance against the occupation."