Turkish task force dismisses doctor in Syria’s Azaz
AZAZ, Syria (North Press) – Zuhair al-Ahmed (pseudonym), a doctor working at Azaz National hospital in the northern countryside of Aleppo, calls the dismissal of cardiologist Osman Hijawi a new violation to add to the list of Turkish violations in Syria.
On August 6, the Presidency of the Syrian Task Forces of the Turkish state of Kilis issued a decision to dismiss Hijawi from Marea Hospital in the northern countryside of Aleppo and prevent him from working in all hospitals in the region, whether Turkish hospitals or those supported by humanitarian organizations.
The medical sector and the departments related to humanitarian organizations were not spared from Turkish violations in the Syrian territories held by Ankara and its affiliated armed factions, local doctors say.
The Turkish decision attributed the reason for the dismissal to Hijjawi’s “failure to show up to his shifts” and “bad behavior with patients.”
However, doctors at Marea Hospital said, through a statement addressed to the hospital administration a day after the dismissal decision was issued, that the reasons stated in the text of the decision were incorrect.
Doctors’ statement described the resolution as an “arbitrary decision.”
According to local sources, the decision to dismiss Hijawi came because of his solidarity with a doctor named Rafi Alwan, who was insulted by a Turkish nurse working in Marea Hospital.
This was confirmed by the doctors’ statement, which indicated that Hijawi did not approve of the nurse’s comments to the doctor.
According to the same sources, the Turkish nurse has a history of verbally abusing the entire hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, and even employees working within the hospital.
Al-Ahmed added that what Turkish doctors and nurses are doing in the region’s hospitals will harm everyone, and he or other doctors fear reprisals similar to those imposed on Hijawi if the staff is not united in their rejection of his treatment.
During the past days, the decision sparked widespread anger in Marea, and the city witnessed protests by residents and workers in Marea’s hospital against the doctor’s dismissal.
A group of Turkish doctors and nurses work in several hospitals in the northern countryside of Aleppo, some of which the Turkish government established or renovated.
Among the hospitals that were built and restored are the hospitals of Azaz, Marea, al-Rai, al-Bab, and other hospitals affiliated with Turkish and international organizations run by Turkey, as well as medical points in those areas.
Residents believe that Turkey’s goal in imposing its service and educational institutions in opposition held-areas is to gain absolute control over the Syrian territories it holds.
Turkish forces, along with Turkish-backed armed factions, control the areas of Jarabulus, Azaz, al-Bab, and Afrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad in the countryside of Hasakah and Raqqa, in addition to the majority of Idlib.
Turkish forces raise the Turkish flag over many government headquarters and bodies in their areas of control, and write the names of these departments in Turkish and Arabic.
Al-Ahmed called on the doctors of Marea Hospital to protest in the event that the Turkish authorities continue to punish Hijawi.