Hêvî Mistefa invites UN to Afrin: "Come and see for yourself"

Chairperson of the Canton of Afrin, Hêvî Mistefa has pointed out that about 50 civilians have been killed in Turkish attacks since the UN resolution on a ceasefire in Syria in response to statements made by UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

Since the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution on a ceasefire throughout Syria, the attacks by the Turkish military, with the support of jihadist groups such as al Qaeda, IS and al-Nusra, have intensified. UN Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric says nothing about the Turkish state's disregard of the UN resolution, blaming Afrin’s self-administration and defense forces instead.

Hêvî Mistefa, Chairperson of Afrin Canton administration, responded to the UN spokesman's allegations, stating that 50 civilians had died in the Turkish military invasion since the adoption of the UN resolution: "The Turkish state and the allied militias have been attacking the civilian population of Afrin for 50 days using dirty methods of war. The population is not leaving their country and is determined to oppose the occupation by the Turkish state. "

Referring to the ceasefire agreement approved by the United Nations Security Council for all of Syria 36 days after the start of the Turkish military invasion, Hêvî Mistefa continued, "For us, this resolution was a glimmer of hope in preventing further civilian massacres. Unfortunately, the Turkish barbarism has become even worse after that. Since that day, 50 people have been killed by the civilian population, including many women and children."

The ceasefire decision of the UN insisted only on paper, the cantonal chairperson continued: "We cordially invite you to come to Afrin and speak with the people. The ceasefire is paper-based and there is nobody monitoring compliance with the UN resolution. Instead, the UN official claims that self-administration and the YPG prevent the population from escaping. We invite those who sit somewhere and say something like this to send a delegation to Afrin and talk to people here. The people of Afrin prefer to voluntarily stay in their country and defend it against the occupation of the Turkish state. Please, come here, see for yourself!”