Udenrigsudvalget 2017-18
URU Alm.del Bilag 103
Offentligt
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The geopolitical and geostrategic importance of Afrin and why the Turkish
state wants to attack it
Turkey lies to the north and west of Afrin, to the east are Turkish-backed groups and to the south the
Nusra Front (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham).
Oil and food prices in Arin, whose economy relies on olives, olive oil and fruit, have rocketed in
recent times because of the embargo from all sides.
Since 2014, Arabs have been taking their place in the legislative assembly, the Presidential Council of
the assembly, and the Executive Council in the canton’s administration.
A small population of Arabs live in the centre of
Afrin,
with Alevi Kurds in Mabata, and Yazidi Kurds
in Kastel Cindo and Ezaze.
Due to its relative stability, since 2013 Afrin has been a refuge for people who have fled ISIS from
places like
Raqqa, Manbij, al-Bab and Jarablus.
The population of Afrin, which consists of seven
neighbourhoods and 365 villages, has doubled from the original figure of 400,000.
After the defeat of ISIS in
Kobani and Gire-Spi
in 2016 the Turkish state saw that its position had
worsened; especially after it sold out its own gangs to the Syrian regime and Russian forces. To seek
to remedy this the Turkish state redirected its attention towards the Democratic Autonomous
Administration.
The occupying Turkish army has control of some parts of the region of
Shehba.
The primary objective
of the military deployment in the
Azaz-Jarablus
pocket is to surround Afrin by taking what is seen as
the Kurdish corridor between the
Menagh
air base and
Tell Rifaat.
The ambitions of this occupation are two-fold: first the sabotaging of the Raqqa operation, and
second, the protection of ISIS. There is also a desire to hinder the development of the North Syria
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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Federation, fight against the Democratic Autonomous Administration and to prevent the development
of democratic projects in Syria.
Since
Afrin
liberated itself from the Baathist regime Turkey has wanted to destroy the city. In June,
the Turkish army and the FSA groups it is backing fired mortars into the city and since the beginning
of the Rojava Revolution the Turkish state has killed many civilians, injured thousands and burnt
swathes of land belonging to the people.
The Turkish state confessed its plans
Significant victories are being won in the
Raqqa
operation, ISIS and its biggest sponsor the Turkish
state is losing in Rojava and northern Syria. Erdogan is unable to digest this loss and is therefore
trying to take revenge on the Kurds. The Turkish state is attacking
Afrin
because it is afraid of any
sort of status for the Kurds.
Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan,
Prime Minister
Binali
Yildirim and Defence Minister
Fehmi Isik
have been declaring their plan to attack Afrin. To get these plans approved
Erdogan
has
had phone conversations with US President
Donald Trump,
Russian President
Vladimir Putin
and
British Prime Minister
Theresa May.
At the same time, the Turkish state is deploying its forces on the
Turkey-Syria border and also in the occupied areas between
Al-Bab and Azaz.
They are firing mortars
into Kurdish populated regions from the occupied lands in Syria on a daily basis.
The Turkish state is trying to gain support by discussing its plans for attack and occupation in the
media and in daily meetings. For example, a top aide for the Turkish Prime Minister said on 3 July:
“We are constructing a military base on the most strategic hill in al-Bab. It is about to be completed.
Therefore, we will be ensuring the security of al-Bab and the wider region with our own police and
military forces. We are working to stabilise the region. However, my personal opinion is that in order
to stabilise the region we need to rid the Afrin region of terrorists”.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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The aide also said that the foreign minister and the country’s intelligence organisation was conducting
its work to this end and added:
“Turkey’s plans for a secure area will be agreed upon in the Astana
talks”.
Turkey’s reasons for its aggression
The civilised world is in a significant battle against ISIS and an international coalition has been
formed for this. However, many documents and reports say that Turkey is supporting ISIS and
providing them with arms. Turkey is threatening the region, the Kurds and the world through ISIS.
This is why it is not in the interests of Turkey for ISIS to be defeated. The most successful battle of
the International Coalition against ISIS has been conducted in collaboration with the Kurds and the
Syrian Democratic Forces of which Kurds constitute a majority.
So then, why is Turkey wanting to attack Afrin, a city that does not threaten Turkey and where there is
not a single ISIS fighter?
This aggression has no legal or ethical basis. There is only one reason behind Turkish state aggression
towards Afrin and that is its Kurdish phobia. The Turkish state does not want the Kurds and their
project to be successful. Turkey wants chaos, instability and war. Turkey does not want ISIS to be
defeated. Turkey wants to occupy. Turkey is laying the groundwork for a regional and international
war. Turkey wants to be a dominant force in the region by supporting Salafist forces and acting with a
Turkish nationalist expansionist mentality.
With this policy, Turkey is diametrically opposed to the peoples of the region and the international
community’s objective of defeating ISIS. Turkey is sacrificing the will of the Kurds, Arabs,
Assyrians, Keldanis, Armenians and Turkmen for its own expansionist objectives. Turkey’s policies
are leading it commit war crimes.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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Peoples of Rojava stand against Turkey’s occupation
Hundreds of Arabs walked against Turkish state occupation in the villages of
Keferneya, Umhos,
Kefernase, Tell Rifaat, Ehres, Vahsiye, Fafen and Hisarcik.
People from
Keferneya
village gathered in front of the village’s mosque and walked to the local
primary school. The marchers, who were joined by the
Shehba
People’s Assembly and the Women’s
Assembly, shouted
“murderer Erdogan!”
“We are all one and against occupation”
We see the Turkish army’s presence on Syrian soil as an occupation. The presence of the Turkish
army is also a threat to the democratic and peaceful future of Syria.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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The Turkish state is playing a negative role in the region. They should leave and all national and
democratic forces in Syria should call for the Turkish state to leave Syria and Rojava. The Turkish
state presence in
Al-Bab, Jarablus and Shehba
is itself a reason for the prolonging of war in Syria.
In the press statement from the march
Arabs from Shehba
declared support for the SDF and
opposition to the occupation of the Turkish state.
“The SDF saved us from evil. We are against the
occupation of the Turkish state. Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen are united”.
In the same statement, a message was sent to the people in Shehba living under Turkish occupation:
“The Turkish state’s aim is occupation it is not ensuring security. Everyone should stand against the
Turkish state’s occupation. The Turkish state’s aim is to capture our villages and towns. They will not
recognise the will of our people while doing this.”
The Turkish army’s attacks have begun
The Turkish army and gangs attacked the liberated villages of Shehba and Afrin. The Turkish army
and gangs attacked the villages of Mirenar, Filat, Qetma, Qestecindo in the region of Sera and fired
mortars at Cilber and Iska villages of Serava. At the same time, they attacked the liberated villages of
Erfad, Minix, Sex Isa, Biluniye.
During the attack, a woman named Sebah Isa and three other civilians were injured. The wounded
were taken to hospital in Afrin.
The Turkish army has intensified its attacks against the villages of Yazi Bax and Keferato in the
region of Shehba. Tens of mortars landed in the village at about 03.00 local time. Three people were
killed as a result of the mortar fire and four people from the same family were severely injured.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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Those who lost their lives and were wounded:
Life lost: Xezala Yusiv (40), Muawiya El-Yusif (13), Tebarik El-Yusif (13).
Wounded: Xensa El-Yusif (18), Rinda El-Yusif (23), Fidaa El-Yusif (19) ve Aya El Yusif (16).
According to information from doctors the injuries are critical.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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The Turkish army is emptying villages in Shehba, forcefully displacing Kurds
The Turkish state ethnically cleansing the regions between Jarablus, al-Bab and Azaz. It is emptying
Kurdish villages and forcefully displacing the Kurds. They are also pushing out the Arabs of the
region and redistributing the lands to their partners. The Turkish state is playing a very negative role
in this region. They are playing with the demography of the region. This is a crime against humanity.
SHEHBA
Turkey occupied Jarablus on 24 August 2016. After that it turned its attention towards Rai, Azaz,
Exterin, Soran and finaly al-Bab. When Turkey occupied these places, its primary target was the
region of Shehba; the 217 Kurdish villages in the region. During the army’s occupation 50 of these
villages were burnt and destroyed by soldiers and gangs, with property being looted. These villages
are in between the region of al-Rai and Marea, and Marea and al-Bab. Some of the looted villages are:
Rai, Dudyan, Gidris, Tel Sehir, Karagoz, Twis, Sava, Siverin, Beluniye, Tel Cican, Tel Circir,
Qibbesin, Seyh Nasır, Hawar Kilis, Yazıbag, Sosinbat, Karakopru, and Karamezra.
The occupying Turkish army and their gangs are emptying the towns of Marea and Shehba for
military purposes.
Two days ago the Turkish army threatened citizens in Kurdish villages in the Shehba region to empty
their houses.
According to local sources the villages of Hezwan, Sosyan, Neman, Birc, Keibe, Kefer Kelbin, Til
Malid, Tiltane, Eble, Tewihine, Tiwes, Sidud, Baroza, Iwen, Dana and Izreq were emptied after
threats from the Turkish army.
Again according to local sources gangs affiliated to the Turkish state emptied the villages of Sex Isa
and Til Midyeq in preparations for an assault against the liberated areas of the Shehba region.
The Turkish army is deploying forces to the towns of Azaz and Marea and the villages of Til Malid
and Kilcibrin in preparation for an assault against the canton of Afrin.
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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Turkish attacks and the role of International forces
The defence forces of the Afrin region and YPG
Commander
Sipan Hemo
evaluates the situation as
follows:
“The Turkish state has been unsuccessful in its
policies concerning Syria, the Middle East and
Rojava Kurdistan. If Turkey attacks Afrin this
would mean that Russia, Iran and Syria approve of
this. This is not possible in any other way. Our
people must know that an attack by the Turkish
state of this sort can only be conducted with the
approval of these states. Russia especially will have
a significant role in this. Turkey entered Jarablus
and al-Bab with permission from Russia and even
the international coalition forces. This is an inter-state question. The Turkish state is making
concessions, by making these it is trying to open itself a path. It is making a diplomatic effort towards
this end and militarily it has brought together some groups.
The target of Turkey’s massacres is hampering the efforts against ISIS. However, our people’s path of
self-defence will be implemented against anyone who intends to harm this strategy.
Unfortunately, some forces are continuing their support for Turkey. The silence of the international
community against Turkey’s intentions is not in the interests of the Syrian nation. It is for this reason
that the international community is responsible for the situation in Syria.
If our calls to the international community to take a stand against Turkey’s intentions do not
materialise our people will have no choice but to resist.
Our people accept the joint borders within the framework of international law. However, Turkey’s
attacks continue. Our people see resistance against these attacks as a national duty.”
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 103: Henvendelse af 22. januar 2018 fra Den Demokratiske Kurdiske Folkeforsamling i Danmark (DDKF-D) om Tyrkiets angreb på byen Afrin
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‘They are fighting against Kurds not ISIS’
Uweyd Abu Seqir,
a gang leader who was
formerly operating under the command of
the Turkish army, said that the Turkish army
was forming military headquarters in al-Bab
to form a new fighting force.
The commander who left the gangs under the
command of the Turkish army five days ago
said that Turkey’s intentions became clearer
after the occupation of al-Bab: “The Turkish
state wants to use us to occupy our own
lands. We were receiving our orders from the
Turkish army from the beginning. All our logistical needs were provided by the Turkish army. After
the capture of al-Bab it became clear that the Turkish army’s intention was not to fight against ISIS
but rather to reinvigorate the Ottoman period. There were meetings between the Turkish army and
ISIS and then tens of villages were handed over to the army by ISIS. The clearest example of this was
the occupation of Jarablus.”
A Kurdish-Arab conflict is being provoked through the media
Uweyd Abu Seqir said that the Turkish state was trying to provoke a Kurdish-Arab conflict in the
region and that many media outlets were being used to this end.
Our call and demands to the international community:
➢
Afrin has been one of the most stable and secure regions in Syria over the past five years.
With this in mind, the city has taken in as much as its original population in IDPs. The UN
and the International Coalition must ensure the continuation of Afrin’s stability and
security. Afrin must be protected against external attacks.
➢
Afrin is not a threat to Turkey and has not attacked anyone. The Turkish state is attacking
Afrin because it is against the Kurds and Kurdish gains. This reality must not be neglected
and the Turkish state’s attacks must be prevented.
➢
Russia, who is responsible for Afrin’s air space, must not be a spectator to Turkey’s attacks
and must prevent any such show of aggression.
➢
The attacks of the Turkish state against Afrin, Rojava and north Syria as a whole is
beneficial for ISIS. The International Coalition Against ISIS must take precautions against
this and must prevent the Turkish army’s attacks.
➢
The Turkish state is an occupying force in Syria. The international community must not be
a spectator to this situation and the Turkish army must be made to leave Syrian soil.