Two German organisations have filed a criminal complaint against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and several top Turkish officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Turkish military actions in North and East Syria. The complaint, filed with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe, names Erdoğan alongside Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, MIT Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın and several senior military commanders, including General Metin Gürak and Air Force Commander Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu.
The complaint was initiated by the International Association for Democracy and Law (MAF-DAD) and the Network of Kurdish Academics (KURD-AKAD) and announced at a press conference in Berlin. The organisations argue that Turkish forces have systematically attacked Kurdish civilian infrastructure, targeting medical facilities, water stations and other essential services in what they describe as a widespread and deliberate campaign. Key representatives, including MAF-DAD Co-chair Heike Geisweid and KURD-AKAD Co-chair Dr Dersim Dağdeviren, stressed the critical impact of these actions on the health and well-being of civilians in the region.
According to the complaint, the Turkish military’s attacks peaked between October 2023 and January 2024, with attacks on critical health facilities such as the Kobani Medical Centre, the Meshtanour Medical Centre and a dialysis centre in Qamislo. These facilities were vital to the civilian population, particularly those with chronic health needs such as diabetes and dialysis treatment. The plaintiffs state that the destruction of these centres has left many without essential medical care, forcing some to seek treatment in Aleppo or abroad and reportedly resulting in patient deaths.
Ankara has justified its military actions in Syrian Kurdistan by citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for self-defence. However, the plaintiffs and legal experts dispute this justification, arguing that there is no evidence linking the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) or the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) to any direct threat to Turkey.
Reports from the AANES recorded a staggering 1,031 attacks in a four-day period from 24 to 27 October 2024. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 17 civilians, including women and children, and injured 65 others. The attacks targeted health and education centres, bakeries, grain stores, electricity plants and water facilities, causing widespread shortages of essential resources such as electricity, water, fuel and food. The plaintiffs claim that such actions are not collateral damage, but a calculated attempt to undermine Kurdish civilian life in violation of international humanitarian law.
Dr Dersim Dağdeviren of KURD-AKAD noted that the complaint is unlikely to lead to a trial but aims to draw international attention to Turkey’s actions in the Kurdish regions. She criticised Germany’s approach and called for a stronger stance, including possible sanctions.
MAF-DAD’s Heike Geisweid also stressed that Turkey’s military actions, which reportedly affect civilians and medical facilities, raise serious concerns under German law on war crimes and crimes against humanity. She noted that the frequent targeting of hospitals and civilian areas underlined the need for accountability.
Prof Dr Gerhard Trabert, a representative of the Association for Poverty and Health, which supports the Kobani Medical Centre, condemned the targeting of health facilities. “Health care is a humanitarian necessity, not a military strategy,” Trabert said.
The complaint highlights the broader context of Turkey’s actions against Kurdish regions and underlines the need for peace and stability in North and East Syria. As international attention grows, the organisations behind the complaint hope to highlight the humanitarian impact of Turkey’s military interventions and push for accountability on the international stage.
