Today marks the sixth anniversary of the occupation of the northern Syrian city of Afrin by the Turkish state and allied mercenaries.

The brutal campaign began on 20 January 2018, when Turkey launched air strikes on 100 locations as the onset of an invasion they dubbed ‘Operation Olive Branch.’ After two months of resistance, civilians fled and the SDF retreated to avoid further losses as hundreds of civilians died during the course of the genocidal campaign in violation of international law.

Efrin and Shehba Canton Council organised a protest march in the Ahdas district to mark the sixth anniversary of the occupation of Afrin. The demonstration was participated by thousands of people from Shehba and Afrin IDPs who took refuge there after the occupation of their homes and lands.

The demonstrators carried olive branches, photographs of the martyrs of the Resistance of the Age, images from the massacres committed by the occupying Turkish state and its gangs against the people of Afrin and Shehba.

The march to the ‘Leader Öcalan Garden’ was followed by a rally, where Xedîce Îbo, member of the Assembly of Martyrs' Families in Afrin and Shehba Canton addressed the crowd and said: "The occupying Turkish state wants to revive the Ottoman Empire and implement the Misak-ı Milli [Project for establishing the borders of the Ottoman National Pact].”

Xedîce Îbo called for the expansion of the struggle for the liberation of Afrin.

Fewzî Mistefa, Co-Chair of the Ehdas District Council of Efrin and Shehba Canton, reacted against the international powers that remained silent against the occupation and the crimes committed in Afrin and said, "The occupying Turkish state is committing genocide crimes in front of the eyes of the world and the Security Council."

Fewzî Mistefa emphasised that they would struggle until Afrin and all other occupied territories are liberated.