A no-fly zone and safe enclave for Kurds in Syria's north

A no-fly zone and safe enclave for the Kurds and other ethnicities in northern Syria — Photo: Reuters

A statement by human rights activists, writers and academics via iKurd.net

We observed that neither the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) nor The People’s Protection Units (YPG) attacked Turkey before January 18, 2018, when Turkey started an assault on the Kurdish Afrin canton inside the Syrian border.

We have witnessed that the SDF has been the most effective force against the terrorist organization, the Islamic State (ISIS), and the most reliable ally of the West in the war against ISIS.

The Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, where the Kurds and other ethnicities participate in a democratically elected administration in northern and northeast Syria, has been a safe enclave for many other Syrians who fled to the area. Afrin has been a stable and democratically ruled region, and with little international aid, has taken hundreds of thousands of refugees since 2012.

According to many sources, Turkey was one of the main sponsors of ISIS. Now, Turkey is attacking the Afrin self-rule canton in the name of self-defense and Turkish national security. Allies in the offense are Turkish-supported rebel groups, and among them, there are Islamic jihadists, such as The Nusra Front and other al-Qaeda-related factions.

Turkey has violated international law, as it uses force against the territorial integrity of Syria (UN Charter article 2 (4)) without any clear evidence that verifies an offense by SDF or YPG. Thus, Turkey does not have any rationale that justifies a self-defense action (Article 51). The administration of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria has frequently stated that it has no interest in Turkey. Their only wish is to defend the people inside the federation.

After the attack on Afrin, which is supported by warplane and heavy artilleries, the situation is worsening. Many civilians have been killed and among them are many children. Turkey will destroy the Kurdish self-rule in Afrin, and the people are under the threat of war crimes—crimes against humanity and genocide.

Why let the repetition of the Kobani or Aleppo massacre and destruction continue? Even if the Kurdish self-rule does not have international recognition, the people of Afrin and northern Syria have the right to be protected against destruction and massacre. The attack on Afrin is an obvious violation of international law and aggression against an elected democratic administration and its population. Where are the human rights of the people inside the Afrin canton?

If the powers that have control over Syria do not stop the Turkish aggression, we will see more destruction and man-made disasters in the Syrian civil war. This will be another betrayal of the international community.

Finally, the Syrian Army and the Iranian militia are also another threat to the democratic rule in northeast Syria. This civil war is far from over.

We believe in a political solution via dialog and negotiation between the representatives of the Syrian ethnic groups. We presume that the immediate solution is the creation of a no-fly zone and safe enclave by the international community in northern Syria. This will also help the final result of the Syrian political crises.

We, human rights activists, writers and academics demand a protection of the population in northern Syria by a creation of a no-fly-zone and safe area in northern Syria.

Signed,

Ali Mahmoud Mohammad , Human Rights Activist and writer, Erbil, Iraq
Kurdish Organizations Network – 365 Civil Organization
Shireen Ridha, Engineer, Erbil, Iraq
Mohamad Hozhabri, Sulaimani
Keyhan Mohammad Aliyan, Human Rights Activist, Netherlands
Goran Adham lawyer, Sulaimani-Kurdistan
Omar Kheder Omar, Employee, Sulaimaniyah-Kurdistan
Rebin fatah journalist, Erbil,Iraq
Hiva Zahedi, Human Rights Activist, Nice-France
Karim Rahimi, Bioengineer, Oslo, Norway
Salar Sanahmad biyaraiy, journalist, Sulaimaniyah
Edris Moradi , Politik Activist , Swizerland
Hersh Nuri Faqe, Activist,Germany,Munich
Pshtewan zangana, Human Rights Activist , London, UK
Ardalan Lateef A.Qader, PhD student, Russia
Hasan Ahmad, journalist,Villach, Austria
Mahmoud Otman.Writer, Netherlands
Niyaz Abdulla, Journalist, Erbil- Kurdistan
Karza hameed – jounralist , Erbil, KRG
Ibrahim A ameen – lawyer , Erbil – Kurdistan
Safin Ahmed-engineering-slemani
Nariman rashid, Mechanical, Sweden
Bakir Haji ,lower, Germany
Sarwar Penjweni – Islamicist – Sulaimaniyah-Kurdistan-Iraq
Hero M Adhem , Human Rights Activist, Lyon, France
Fatah Khalil Zaxoiy, Former Minister, – Sulaimani-Kurdistan-Iraq
Fuad Mustafa –Engineer, Erbil-Iraq
Qasim Marzani, University Lecturer, salahaddin University, Erbil
Rebin umer . Lawyer -Erbil-Kurdistan
Redar muhammad /pease generations network- PGN /Erbil
Saeed M Ameen Saeed, Sociologist.. Erbil
Ayub Faek, Human Rights Activist, Canada Vancouver
Amal Jalal, politic activist sul, Sulaimaniyah
Ahmad Shwan . , Human Rights Activist, Stockholm –Sweden
Ardalan Yassin – Resident in Sydney-Australia An artist & political activist
Diar Khalil Aziz, Human Rights Activist, Erbil, Kurdistan
Abdulla salih – politic activist – london uk
Ali Hussein , Human Rights Activist ,Germany ,Kiel
Saman Suleiman Adelaide, Australia
Ranjdar Grawy, political activist, Bruxelles,Belgium
Bahman Omer, Journalist ,Deutschland kisslegg
Dana Halabjaiy . Journalist , The Netherlands
Sardar Abdulla Hama, politic activist,canada
Nasir Taha Sulaiman, Human Rights Activist , Aalborg _Danmark
Bayan Baki ,Psychology, Netherlands
Mohammed H. Tofiq / Sulaimaniya / Writer
Ali Badai , Engineer, Netherlands
Mohammad Ahmadpour, Human Rights Activist, Sweden
Dilshad Khoshnaw journalist, – Sulaimaniyah
Majid dilnya, writer, Deutschland
Ronak Shwani, Writer, Sweden
Ali Abdulla, Human Rights Activist ,Deutschland, Wuppertal
Korosh Dadmihir , Human Rights Activist, Manchester, UK
Mohammed kamal taha, Human Rights Activist ,kurdistan
Taher Rahem , Human Rights Activist, Deutschland
Mudhafer Hamza economical,Switzerland
Baxtyar Majid Muhammad , Polic , Kirkuk
Abdulrehman Rasul – Author and Journalist –France
Mahdi Namiq Kareem,Teacher ,Erbil
Hiwa Said Salim, Journalist, Erbil-kurdistan
Rebin Rasul Esmail, writer, Koln, Germany
Azad gharib, Journalist/kirkuk
Ahmad Fathulla Ahmad,PhD student, Erbil-IRAQ
Hawraman WeriyQanie,slemani,teacher
Rebin Sabah / lawyer. Erbil kutdistan
Jalal Rostam ,Worker , Helsinki Finland
Sherko Sdeeq ,English teacher – kirkuk
Lezma goran, Journalist, Erbil-kurdistan
Tanya muhammad, karkuk;social worker
Sirwan Hussen . Math Supervisor. Kirkuk.
Kader Maulud, Theodor_Heuss str 18. 51149 Koln, Germany
Koyar Rawf United Kingdom human right activist
Allan Hassaniyan, EX4 9EA, Exeter, UK, PhD Researcher
Muhammed Amin Kayrulla, self-employed, Germany
Abbas Hassan , Human Rights Activist,Ulgvænget 13, 4623 Lille Skensved, Danmark
Abubakir sabir ,Human Rights Activist ,Germany ESSEN
Jeger Karas, Human Rights Activist, Kurdistan Erbil
Mhamadamin Abdulla Rasul – Peshmarga, Ranya- Kuridstan
Lezan Reshid Magdid, Unemployed, Erbil-Kurdistan
Goran Abdullah,Self Employed,Toronto-Canada
Zardasht Kawa/ student, Erbil
Nabaz Shorash, shop owner, Denmark
Safin Khoshnaw, Medical laboratory technician,Oslo, Norway
Kader Nader ,Human Rights Activist – Sweden
Ali Qarani, Teacher, Erbil-Kurdistan
Lukman Mustafa Abdullah, taxi driver, Danmark
Nawzad Marouf, Civil Engineer, Roskilde, Danmark
Ayar Baki, Lawyer ,Sweden
Goran Halabjai , Journalist, Danmark ,
Shakar Ali , a survivors of Anfal, Netherland
Jamal mohammed ,, worker, Sweden
Azeez Hakeem Ali Azeez,Mitglied der Nationalen Union der kurdischen Beziehungen,
Lübeck, Deutschland
Dr Mohammad Kayani Former Member of Iraqi Parliament
Rizgary Party of Kurdistan
Aso Omar mosa, Human Rights Activist, Norge
Fakhradin Garmiany, Writer, Australia
Aso hakim Abdullah,optometrist,Koysenjaq, Erbil, Iraq
Darsim peshawa,Writer,danmark
Handren Hawrami, Journalist, Belgium,
Jalal chwartayii, ,Journalist,Nederlands
Chrw Sabr Aziz. Human Rights Activist, Erbil
Azad Karim Civilingeneer Mjöverdq18; 45195 Uddevalla, Sweden
Ahmad Majid, victims of survivors Anfal, Kalar-Kurdistan
Rasul Husin, Human Rights Activist, Erbil
Rzgar bora, Human Rights Activist, Erbil
Nawgul Ismail, Engineer, Kokkedal, Danmark
Pishtiuan Khadir Shoresh, Former Peshmerga, Bonn, Germany
Shnow Hamad , radiologist, UK
Hemn Haseb, Journalist, Kirkuk
Yassin Kareem Abdullah, Writer, Slimanyah,
Aso Faqe, Human Rights Activist, Oslo, Norway
Ghazi Yacoob, Helsinki, Finland
Berivan Rashwani, Sweden
Rebaz Hashm Mustefa, Human Rights Activist
Taha suliman, journalist, Vancouver, Canada
Awesta Sinan, Aarhus, Denmark
Jamil Shwani, Human Rights Activist, Espergærde, Danmark
Diman Ahmad, employee, Køge, Danmark
Sami Osman Ahmed, Teacher, Malmö, Sweden
Faraidum Hamarashid, Writer, Switzerland
Hama Hassan, Prestwich, Manchester, UK
Kosrat Ahmad, Teacher, Human Rights Activist, Erbil-Kurdistan
Dr. Faiq Muhamad Ahmad, doctor, Slemani-Kurdistan
Ahmed jaf, Copenhagen-Danmark
Aso Aref, Stockholm, Sweden
Adalat Omar, Erbil-Kuristan
Smko Sabir Sharif, Human rights acitivist, Garmian-Kurdistan
Omar Faris Aziz Omar Faris Aziz, CEO/Founder, www.kurdistannet.org
Sarwin Rashwani , Australia
Kamal Mawloodi
Riyadh Kakeshin, Texas-USA
Pshtiwan Mohamad, Copenhagen, Danmark
Weria salim nabi, Bagartorpsringen 62, 17065 Solna, Sweden
Abdulla Alaskari, Vancouver, Canada
Krmanj Awena, Hawler, Kurdistan
Zaher Amen, Human Rights Activist, Kirkuk
Ahmed Barzinji, Lawyer, Kokkedal- Danmark
Darya sharah, Helsingborg, Sweden
Salam gomashiny, Sweden
Rostam Serxel
Daban saleh, Sweden
Aram Mohammadyan
Ahmad Hassan, former Peshmarga, Erbil-Kurdistan
Mahdi Jaf
Taher Rahem Daudi sahir, Germany
Yousef Mantk, Journalist, Germany
Meriwan Zendy, former Peshmarga, Erbil-Kuridstan
Osman HAawramy, medic employee, Halabja-Kurditsan
Saleh Ismail, Wuppertal, Deutschland
Bakhtyar Karim, Erbil
Dr. Hawre zangana, writer and social-psychologist
Jange Mahamad, Hawler-Kurdistan
Shakhawan Shorsh, Cand.scient.pol, Køge, Danmark.

Submitted by Shakhawan Shorash.

Shakhawan Shorash, BA and Master of political science from Southern University of Denmark and University of Copenhagen. A freelance writer concerning human right, genocide, ethnic conflicts, democratization and similar subjects. Shorash is an occasional contributing senior writer for iKurd.net, See below.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.