Displaced Sere Kaniye Kurds protest in Syria’s Qamishli for safe return
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Hundreds of displaced Kurds from the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) staged on Monday a protest in front of the United Nations headquarters in Qamishli city, northeastern Syria, calling for their safe and dignified return to their hometown.
The event was held under the slogan “Six years of forced displacement — safe return is our legitimate right.”
Participants carried banners urging the international community to ensure the return of the displaced to their city.
In a statement to North Press, Mohammed Hajo, member of the Sere Kaniye Displaced Committee, urged the Syrian transitional government to fulfill its responsibilities, support displaced people, and commit to the March 10 agreement guaranteeing safe and dignified return.
Gulistan Hajo, a displaced woman from Sere Kaniye, appealed for international protection, saying, “We were forcibly uprooted from our homes. For six years, we have endured suffering and injustice in displacement camps.”
In October 2019, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring, a military offensive aimed at clearing the northern Syrian border areas of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Turkey considers a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). As part of the operation, Turkish forces and affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) took control of the cities of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad in northeastern Syria.
The offensive resulted in the displacement of approximately 300,000 civilians, including Kurds, Arabs, and other ethnic minorities. The capture of these areas has led to widespread concerns over human rights abuses, including forced displacements, demographic changes, and the destruction of infrastructure.
Despite various international calls for a ceasefire, the region remains under Turkish control, and displaced residents have been unable to return due to security concerns, ongoing Turkish military presence, and the lack of international guarantees for their safety.