In the northern Syrian canton of Afrin occupied by the Turkish state and its mercenaries, crimes such as harassment, rape, extortion, theft and plunder of nature have become rampant since the invasion of the region in 2018. The main victims of these crimes are women and children.

Most recently, a leader of the Turkey-backed "Sultan Şuleyken Shah (Amshat)" group raped a 10-year-old child and the leader of the "Jaysh Al Islam" group raped a 14-year-old child in Afrin. In the same week, a child who refused to be married off was kidnapped by mercenary groups.

Speaking to ANHA,women in North and East Syria reacted to the inhumane practices carried out by the invading Turkish state and its mercenaries and stated that these crimes were part of the policies of genocide and demographic change.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE TARGETED

Newroz El Elî, Deputy Chair of the Women's Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), said that the crimes committed in Afrin were not new, and the Turkish state used various excuses to commit crimes against citizens, women and children.

Denouncing the crimes of rape and kidnapping against several children within a week, Elî underlined that the Turkish state and allied mercenaries especially targeted women and children.

Elî called on all humanitarian and legal institutions that advocate for human rights to take a stand against the crimes of the Turkish Republic.

WHERE ARE LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS?

A citizen named Rabie Bekro condemned the rape of a 10-year-old child in Afrin's Shiye district, saying that this act had no place in any religion.

Another citizen, Zehra Mihemed, said that she was shocked by the silence of the institutions and organizations that promote children's rights. She said: “Why don’t these organizations react to crimes against children? These crimes pose a real danger to the lives of children.”

Shehrezad El Casim, an executive member of the Zenubiya Women's Community, said: “Afrin was a city of peace, stability and brotherhood for years. Free women lived in Afrin, the city of olives. But today, women are subjected to violence and crimes are committed.”

She added: “The invaders and mercenary groups are changing the demographic structure of the city. They want to break the free will of women through rape, violence, forced displacement and child abduction."

'HIDEOUS CRIMES'

Ayşe El Mudhi, an executive member of the Deir ez-Zor Eastern Region Women's Committee, condemned the crimes committed by the invading Turkic state and its mercenary groups against women and children.

El Mudhi defined the crimes in question as "hideous" and demanded harsh penalties for the perpetrators.