Turkey sentences Syrian Kurdish SDF member to life imprisonment
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – On March 23, Turkey sentenced Dozgin Temmo, known as Cicek Kobani, a former female member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to life in prison.
According to the Violations Documentation Center in Northern Syria (VDC-NSY), Kobani was brought to trial for the first time on June 2, 2020 in the city of Urfa, south Turkey.
Wahida Othman, 48, the mother of Cicek Kobani, told North Press that her daughter “was tried in Turkey in an illegal manner, since she was kidnapped from Syria.
“My daughter was carrying out humanitarian work and assisting the residents in the area when she was captured by the Syrian armed opposition groups in the village of al-Mushairfa, near the town of Ain Issa,” she added.
She pointed out that the murder charge was fabricated in order to pass this judgment, “which is unfair against her.”
A life sentence was issued against Cicek Kobani by the Turkish authorities for “harming the integrity of the Turkish state,” in addition to ten years and ten months for murder.
Kobani’s mother called on international human rights and humanitarian organizations to intervene against this sentence issued against her daughter, “because it is unfair and illegal,” as she described.
Kobani was arrested on October 21, 2019, during an attack by Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups on the cities of Tel Abyad and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in northeastern Syria.
The VDC-NSY indicate that Kobani was arrested by the Turkish-backed Glory Corps group.
A circulated video clip showed a group of gunmen, one of them carrying a woman who appeared to be injured, chanting “to the slaughter!” and referring to the woman as a “pig” Arabic.
The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the collective or individual forcible transfer of protected persons by the occupying state, according to Article 49 of the Fourth Convention, though Turkey does not consider itself an occupying state.
The Conventions also prohibit their deportation from occupied lands to the territory of the occupying state or to the territory of any other country, whether occupied or not, regardless of their motives.
Turkish authorities continue to violate international law, as the number of Syrians who have been transferred for trial within its territory and in its courts has exceeded 60, according to Human Rights Watch.
Turkey also arrested Syrians under the pretext of their support for the SDF or the Autonomous Administration, according to VDC-NSY.
26-year-old Cicek Kobani, real name Dozgin Temmo, was born in the city of Kobani and was a volunteer within the ranks of the SDF with “humanitarian” missions.