Kobanî – The violation of the sanctity of martyrs’ shrines in Raqqa is not an isolated incident. All cities under the control of the Turkish occupation and jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have witnessed similar violations. Their presence is often marked by the destruction of martyrs’ shrines and the desecration of graves. These practices have been repeatedly carried out in several areas without any humanitarian deterrent to stop them.

Today, Tuesday, February 10, the Council of Martyrs’ Families in the Euphrates Canton issued a statement condemning the violations committed by jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who desecrated the graves of martyrs at the Martyrs’ Shrine in the city of Raqqa.

The statement read:

“We, the Council of Martyrs’ Families in the Euphrates Canton, recall our martyrs with utmost respect, and we strongly condemn, with deep sorrow and anger, the attacks on our sacred sites and symbols of dignity in the areas that witnessed the withdrawal of our forces. Martyrs’ shrines have been subjected to the most heinous acts of systematic destruction, in a blatant violation of the sanctity of the martyrs and a vile assault on human values.”

The statement described the attack as a criminal act aimed at destroying the tombstones of heroes who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

The statement further affirmed that “such acts prove to the entire world that these parties, with their mentality, fear even our martyrs in their graves, lack the most basic moral standards, and futilely attempt to take revenge on the legacy of resistance. The dignity of our martyrs is a red line. Therefore, we condemn the silence of the international community.”

The statement called on all international human rights and humanitarian organizations to fulfill their duties by monitoring and documenting these violations, forming an independent international investigation committee, and holding the perpetrators accountable.

“We, the Council of Martyrs’ Families, pledge to our martyrs that the destruction of their shrines will only strengthen our determination to uphold their values, and that their memory will remain eternal in our conscience and will not be erased by any betrayal or destruction. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and salute our martyrs who forged a new history and left behind a great legacy written by heroes.”

It is worth noting that the shrines that were vandalized in Manbij, Raqqa, and Tabqa contain the remains of male and female fighters from the ranks of the Syrian Democratic Forces, representing all components—Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen—who participated in the defeat of ISIS.