The Center for Research and Protection of Women's Rights in Syria launched a campaign to collect signatures to demand justice for the assassination of the general secretary of the Future Party of Syria, Hevrin Khalaf. The politician was murdered by the pro-Turkish "Ahrar Al Sharqiya" faction in October 2019.

The appeal and the statement of the Center for Research and Protection of Women's Rights in Syria can be seen and joined here.

The campaign text reads as follows:

Justice for Hevrin Khalaf

Nine months have passed since the assassination of politician and General Secretary of the Future Party Syria Hevrin Khalaf by the militia of Ahrar Al Shariqa supported by Turkey.

Hevrin Khalaf, who had always called for peace, democracy and brotherhood of nations, had worked hard to make Syria a peaceful place. Hevrin never abandoned her principles and her attachment to her country, Syria.

Since the beginning of Operation "Spring of Peace" until today, despite all the evidence documenting the crimes of the Turkish state and despite all the appeals and demands by human rights organisations and political parties for justice for the brutal and cruel murder of Hevrin, there is still silence. The whole world saw the abominable method in which she was murdered. Yet nothing was done to stop these militias from continuing to spread fear and destruction and from committing further crimes against the civilian population, especially women and children, in the occupied territories.

As stipulated in international norms and agreements and international law, according to which women and children must be protected and spared from fighting in times of armed conflict. To which the parties to the conflict are responsible for the protection and security of civilian areas against violations of women and children, must be brought to justice.

However, the implementation of this penalty mechanism remains only within the framework of the nation states which have accepted this agreement. The nation states which have not accepted it and dissociate themselves from it, means the penalty mechanisms are not applied.

Therefore these countries can evade the judgment of the court and punishment. Despite violation of international agreements and treaties by the Turkish state, they avoid themselves and their officials from appearing before the International Criminal Court because the Turkish state have not signed the political system of the Rome court.

In order for the Turkish state and its loyal militias not to escape punishment for the crimes committed and still being committed in all occupied Syrian territories, the following points must be implemented:

• The Security Council must take action and put an end to Turkish expansion within the Syrian territories and investigate the assassination of the politician Hevrin Khalaf by a special committee and forward her file to the International Criminal Court.

• To hold the criminals accountable for their crimes and achieve justice fort he Secretary General of the Future syrian Party and for all civilian victims in Syria.

• Therefore, we invite you to stand by us and support us to raise our voice and put pressure on the international institutions to open the file of politician Hevrin Khalaf and bring justice to her and her family.

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