“Red Olives” on the second anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Afrin

Damascus – North-Press Agency

Ahmad Kanaan

Ya Mal al-Sham Forum in Damascus has held a special evening on Wednesday, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Turkish military invasion in the Syrian region of Afrin, titled "Red Olives”, in reference to the staining of Afrin’s olives with the blood of its people.
 

As many poets, actors, writers and artists have participated in the evening, and poems were read on this occasion, as well as pieces of music played on the flute and guitar instruments were presented. Additionally, the short documentary film "Afrini mother lullaby" was presented, directed by the Kurdish cinematographer Mahmoud Khalil Chiqmaqi from the region of Afrin, as the audience widely accepted and influenced by the show.
 

The attendees listened to an explanation of the suffering which the people of Afrin have undergone, during 58 days of the Turkish military attack, by Mr. Mohamed Harakat who lived through the daily events, where he said: "We were threatened of genocide if we did not leave, as our displacement from our region was only an escape from death." He also dwelled more on Olive trees and how the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition groups uprooted these trees, expressing his grief for the demographic change that is taking place in the Syrian-Kurdish region.
 

Moreover, Syrian actor Ahmad Melli told North-Press: "I've visited Afrin many times and I have many friends. I remember driving in the car on a road surrounded by olive trees, and when I saw the news of uprooting the trees on TV, I cried."
 

While the journalist and poet Lina al-Khansa, expressed her pleasure to participate in this evening and said: "Turkey is an old enemy and has great ambitions for demographic change, and plans must be made to confront it and curb it because it will not hesitate to commit more crimes against the Syrian people. It is already well-known for massacres throughout the history, and it is time for the entire international community to act and deter it."
 

For his part, the poet Qutaiba al-Khos said: "It is necessary to commemorate this event, and it is very necessary for the international community to curb this Turkish monster which is thinking of preying on all of Syria."
 

Furthermore, the novelist Dr. Amani Nasser told North-Press: "Afrin is the heart of every Syrian and the Turkish greed will not be fulfilled, no matter how long or short it would take,” she added that the displayed short film during the evening affected her and had a great impact. "It showed us a part of the tragic suffering which the people of Afrin have been subjected to," she said.
 

A member of the board of directors of "Ya Mal al-Sham" forum, the sculptor Maan Mahmoud said: "We are determined to commemorate this event, so that we can shed some light on the crimes and aggressions carried out by the Turkish enemy on the major areas of the Syrian territories." He explained that there are a number of upcoming initiatives and evenings that will focus on the suffering of the people in northern Syria.