The Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES) has declared its commitment to mobilise all available resources for the liberation of Afrin (Efrin), equating the presence of the Turkish state and its allied groups in Afrin to an occupation, in a statement issued on Sunday marking the sixth anniversary of Afrin’s occupation.
The statements came following the brutal murder of Kurdish teenage boy Ahmad Khaled Mamo by Yamen Ahmad Ibrahim, a settler brought to Afrin by Turkey following its 2018 invasion.
The Administration presented a five-point roadmap towards liberation, highlighting the tragic circumstances prevailing in the region since the occupation. Describing the situation as a violation of all moral principles and international laws, with demographic changes, killings, kidnappings, torture, rape and destruction of historical sites rampant, the Administration condemned the actions of groups acting under Turkey’s directives.
In a five-point agenda for the liberation of Afrin and other occupied areas, the Administration emphasised the strategic importance of their liberation for regional stability. They called on all international powers to support efforts to remove Turkey from the region and liberate Afrin. Additionally, they urged international bodies to investigate the realities in Afrin and hold those responsible, including Turkish officials, accountable for their actions.
The Administration also condemned the silence of the international community, asserting that the suffering in Shehba (Şehba) and Afrin would never be forgotten. They reaffirmed their belief in the eventual liberation of Afrin from “Turkey-backed gangs” and the return of its people to their homes. Finally, they appealed to all international institutions to end the genocidal practices of the Turkish state and its allied groups.
The People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish-led armed group in Syria that has significantly contributed to the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), echoed these sentiments, vowing to continue the struggle until the liberation of Afrin and other occupied regions. They emphasised the historical significance of the Afrin Resistance, asserting their determination to honour the legacy of the fallen by advancing the cause of freedom.
Meanwhile, activists in Qamishli (Qamişlo), northeastern Syria, demanded the end of Turkey’s occupation of Afrin, highlighting the region’s transformation from a safe haven to a conflict zone. In a press statement on Monday, they condemned the cultural and environmental destruction, urging international intervention to restore Afrin to its indigenous people and preserve its Kurdish identity.
