“Turkish attacks against historic sites violate several treaties”

Afrin Canton Historic Artifacts Directorate Member Selahaddin Sîno said Turkey is in violation of the terms of the 1954 Hague Convention with the bombing and pillaging of historic sites.

Afrin Canton Historic Artifacts Directorate Member Selahaddin Sîno spoke to ANHA and said historic artifacts and sites don’t belong to any one society but to the whole of humanity as a legacy, and that the Turkish state targets the history of civilization in Afrin.

Sîno continued: “When the invading Turkish army and their allied gangs attacked the Afrin Canton, they targeted the historic sites first to erase all traces of civilizations throughout history in Afrin. With these attacks, Turkey is in violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.”

Sîno said historic remains belong to the whole of humanity: “Turkey is attacking the joint history of humanity. Because historic artifacts and sites don’t belong to any one society but to the whole of humanity as a legacy. Turkey is targeting areas with thousands of years of history and rich culture. Each historic artifact shows how ancient humans have been in the region.”

Afrin Canton Historic Artifacts Directorate Member Selahaddin Sîno said the invading Turkish army and their gangs tore down all historic sites, cemeteries and sacred sites: “There are no historic remains left that haven’t been damaged by the invading Turkish army and their gangs. The tomb of Hanan Al Islami in the Mishele village of the Shera district, tombs of important Kurdish personalities Nuri Dersimi and Cemil Horo are but a few examples. The Turkish state aims to attack the spirituality and psychology of the society.”