Thousands of people from the self-governing neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah took to the streets to mark the fifth anniversary of the Turkish occupation of Afrin in 2018.

People of the two neighborhoods marched through the main street of Sheikh Maqsoud, displaying photos of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and martyrs of the resistance of Afrin, as well as banners condemning the occupation.

Addressing the crowd at Cebanat Square, Aleppo Civil Society Organisation Co-chair Kamîran Zaza stressed that their struggle would continue until Afrin is liberated and the invaders are driven out of the city.

Pointing to the Turkish state’s goal to destroy the Kurds through occupation and demographic change, Zaza said that the Afrin Liberation Forces would destroy the dreams of the invaders.

Speaking after, Roşan Mihemed, a member of the Council of Martyrs’ Families, denounced the international silence on the crimes committed by the Turkish state and allied mercenaries during the five years of occupation.

Mihemed pointed out the Damascus and Ankara regimes’ effort for reconciliation, defining it as an effort to legitimatize the repressive regime.

Mihemed remarked that the freedom of Syrians relies on inter-Syrian dialogue and solution, vowing that Afrin would be liberated and ad a democratic Syria would be built by the people.