Al-Hasakah: Dozens of Displaced Residents from Afrin and Shahba Gather to Commemorate the Anniversary of Forced Displacement

Dozens of residents from Afrin and Shahba gathered at the Health Institute in the city of al-Hasakah to remember the tragedy whose impact continues to leave a deep wound in the hearts of the people, reaffirming their right to return and rejecting all forms of forced displacement imposed upon them.

The statement reads as follows:

On this painful anniversary for our people, the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe that befell our people in Afrin and later in Shahba as a result of the military operations and repeated attacks committed by the Turkish occupation and its affiliated factions led to widespread waves of forced displacement affecting tens of thousands of innocent civilians.

The occupation of Afrin in 2018 marked the beginning of a harsh phase of suffering, as entire families were forced to leave their homes, lands, and heritage, heading toward the Shahba region, which became the only refuge for the displaced despite limited resources and extremely difficult conditions, in addition to ongoing shelling and the policies of intimidation and terror practiced by the occupation and its affiliated groups.

With the continued attacks on civilians, our people were forced to flee once again toward the Jazira region in a second, even more painful journey in search of safety and protection from killing and systematic violations. This double displacement does not constitute a temporary case of refuge; rather, it is a deliberate crime of forced displacement and a clear and blatant violation of international humanitarian law and all international conventions that prohibit targeting civilians and forcing them to abandon their homes. It also represents an organized attempt to alter the demographic structure and undermine the cultural and historical identity of the Kurdish people.

We call on international organizations and United Nations bodies to assume their responsibilities toward the thousands of families still suffering from the effects of displacement, and to ensure their voices are heard in all international forums.

We affirm that we are a people who have not and will not surrender, and that our will is stronger than all attempts to break or uproot us. The right of return to Afrin is a sacred right that no occupation can abolish. The blood of the martyrs and the suffering of the displaced are a trust upon our shoulders, and we must continue the struggle to reclaim our land. We will remain committed to the path of our martyrs until the day of safe and dignified return.

As we honor today the steadfastness of our people—who faced death, hunger, and siege with dignity and determination—we affirm that this tragedy will not be forgotten. It will remain a testament to the crimes committed against our people and a responsibility that does not expire with time.

We also value the role of local communities and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, which embraced thousands of displaced people and extended a helping hand during the most difficult circumstances.

We condemn and denounce all crimes and violations committed by the Turkish occupation and its affiliated factions against civilians in Afrin and Shahba, and we call for an independent international investigation into the crimes of forced displacement, massacres, and attacks that targeted the demographic and cultural fabric of the region, and to reaffirm the right of all displaced persons to return to their homes.

Freedom for all occupied areas: Afrin, Shahba, Tal Abyad (Gire Spi), Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye), and all regions under Turkish occupation.