INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
![Turkish-forces-with-opposition-militants-–-Circulated](https://defenceredefined.com.cy/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Turkish-forces-with-opposition-militants-–-Circulated.jpg)
On Tuesday, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor published their 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Syria and elaborated on human rights abuses carried out by Turkish-backed armed groups in northern Syria.
The report states that these groups backed by Turkey (referred to as TSOs in the report) committed grave violations of human rights, specifically targeting Kurdish and Yezidi civilians, including “arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of civilians, torture, sexual violence, forced evacuations from homes, looting and seizure of private property, transfer of detained civilians across the border to Turkey, the cutting of water to civilian populations, recruitment of child soldiers and the looting and desecration of religious shrines.”
Also read :Clashes between Syrian Army and SNA near the city of al-Bab – All developments in Syria – VIDEO
In addition, the report also singled out Turkish forces themselves and quoted eyewitnesses and local human rights monitors as saying that “an attack carried out by Turkish forces or TSOs on October 16 struck a rural area killing a young boy and injuring others in Ain Issa.”
The report referred to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria (COI), which documented the illegal transfer of Syrians detained by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) to Turkey.
This collaboration between the Turkish government and the SNA may “entail criminal responsibility for [Turkish] commanders who knew or should have known about the crimes, or failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures to prevent or repress their commission,” according to the report.
The COI also quoted within the report as having documented torture and killings within the former Kurdish majority in the Afrin region, which was invaded and occupied by Turkish forces in 2018, as well as in the area occupied by Turkish and Turkish-backed forces under Operation Peace Spring in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad, which were invaded in the autumn of 2019.
Also read: Syria | SDF repels another Turkish-backed Syrian attack – VIDEO
In these regions, the COI documented “hostage-taking, cruel-treatment, ill-treatment and torture”, as well as the torture and rape of minors detained by Turkish-backed groups.
Several human rights monitors and the COI reported that in Sere Kaniye, Turkish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had converted properties stolen from Kurdish citizens by Turkish-backed groups into religious centers.
The report specifically stated that the SNA “arrested, detained, tortured, killed, and otherwise abused numerous Kurdish activists and individuals” in Afrin and Sere Kaniye, which was described as “a consistent, discernible pattern of abuses…against Kurdish residents.”
The report also documented human rights violations committed by the Syrian regime and Russian forces supporting them, including airstrikes, massacres, indiscriminate killings, kidnapping of civilians, extreme physical abuse, including sexual violence and unlawful detentions” committed by the regime.
See the full report here
Also read:
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…
Ukraine | Satellite images depict destruction of Russian drone base
Ukraine claims that satellite images show the destruction of a Russian warehouse used to launch Iranian-made drones and train cadets.
EU | Accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova officially kick off Tuesday
EU Finance Ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally approved the framework for negotiations with the two candidate countries…
EUROSATORY 2024 | Missile Artillery Solutions from MBDA
With such a large number of interested attendees at MBDA’s pavilion at the Eurosatory 2024 Defence exhibition, the stand reminded of an…
KNDS | Showcases full range of LEOPARD battle tanks at EUROSATORY
KNDS continues to expand its technological advantage in the field of main battle tank development, as we have witnessed at the Defence and…
THEON SENSORS | Distinguishing appearance at EUROSATORY 2024 with new range of products
THEON SENSORS attended the International Defence and Security Exhibition EUROSATORY 2024 as an ambassador of Greek innovation…
Ministry of Defence | Organization of Hellenic EDF Info Day
A Conference entitled “EDF Info Day” is organized in the Amphitheater of the National Gallery on Tuesday, July 9 from 09:00 to 17:00.
ALTUS LSA | Participates in EUROSATORY 2024 with KERVEROS in the foreground
The participation of ALTUS LSA in EUROSATORY 2024 is among the Greek participations of operational significance.
Freddy Beleris | Ιn jail until October
The elected mayor of Heimarra and Member of the European Parliament of New Democracy will remain in prison until October…
0 Comments