Nagham Jajan

Qamishlo – Despite the repeated waves of forced displacement suffered by the people of Afrin and the accompanying humanitarian hardship, they remain committed to their right to return to their homes and lands, stressing that preserving identity and belonging is a form of resistance.

After repeated forced displacements, the displaced of Afrin continue to demand their right to return to their homes and lands. Their demand is not merely about physical return, but also about ensuring a safe and dignified return in which their human rights are safeguarded and they are given the opportunity to restore hope and build a new, stable life on their land.

Arin Bakr, a member of the Women’s Council for the displaced from the regions of Afrin and Shahba, reiterated her deep pain over being displaced from her city:

“In 2018, we women of Afrin were forced to flee. We chose to settle in Shahba because we refused to live under the control of the mercenaries of the Turkish occupation, who caused great harm to the people of the city and forced most of its residents to leave.”

“States must guarantee our safe return”

She stressed that after nine years of displacement it has become necessary for international actors to guarantee a safe return, as armed groups are still present in the city.

“The people of Afrin consider their struggle an inseparable part of protecting Kurdish existence, but the presence of mercenaries will expose them to new violations.”

She added that the Syrian government must remove all mercenary groups from the city:

“The people of Afrin will return to their city, and the interim administration must assume its basic responsibilities. The agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian interim government is a very positive step if it is implemented as written. We, the displaced, aspire to return to our homes with dignity and safety.”

“We do not trust the interim government”

Ilham Ali, another displaced woman from Afrin, said this is the third time she and her family have been forced to flee. They first moved from Afrin to Shahba, then to Raqqa, and from there to Qamishlo, stressing that their decision to flee was in defense of their dignity:

“We want to return to our land and for our sons and daughters to return to their families.”

Kelistan Shahin, a Kurdish child displaced from Raqqa to Qamishlo, expressed her wish for the Syrian Democratic Forces to be the authority responsible for governance and protection:

“I want to return to my city because I love it very much. We do not trust the Syrian interim government; we want the Syrian Democratic Forces to take responsibility for governance and protection. I want the Kurds to obtain their rights.”