Autonomous Administration demands international investigation into violations committed against female detainees in Afrin

A group of women leaving the headquarters of one of the Turkish-baked armed opposition groups – circulated

North-Press Agency    

On Saturday, the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria demanded an international investigation about the violations of Turkish-backed armed opposition groups against female detainees in Afrin.  

Through a statement posted on its official website on Saturday, the Autonomous Administration condemned the violations of Turkish-backed armed groups against Kurdish women in the city of Afrin, northwestern Syria.

The administration said that "Grave violations and abuses were committed against eight women detained by al-Hamzat Division" (one of Turkey’s  armed opposition groups) in Afrin, and called it "an immoral treatment that is really shameful."  

 
The statement described what is happening in Afrin, Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), and Tel Abyad (Gre-Spi), which are controlled by Turkish forces and their armed opposition groups, and described what women detainees suffered in exchange for the ransom demanded by al-Hamzat Division as a "very serious violation."

Last Thursday, the city of Afrin witnessed clashes between al-Hamzat Division and Ahrar al-Sham, both Turkish-backed armed opposition groups, which resulted in the death of a number of civilians. The matter led settler families to attack al-Hamzat Division headquarters, where they found 8 women detained.  

The statement held the Turkish government responsible for what happened to these women, and appealed to all human rights organizations, feminist movements, United Nations institutions, the Russian Federation and the United States of America to conduct an international investigation and hold those responsible for these violations to account.  

"What these groups do is a clear abuse and a flagrant and open violation of all international covenants as well as all moral values, as these practices are genocide in their broadest sense," the statement said.  

Turkish-backed groups have been carrying out violations and abuses against the indigenous residents of Afrin since March 18, 2018, including forced displacement, kidnapping, financial extortion, field executions, and resettlement of strangers that were documented by international reports, videos, and photos published by human rights organizations and local media.