Qamishlo – The Women’s Coordination Committee in the Jazira Canton, on behalf of its three councils, issued a statement condemning the violations committed against civilians in the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zeid neighborhoods, stressing the urgent need for action to protect civilians and safeguard women’s rights.

The Women’s Coordination Committee in the Jazira Canton, on behalf of its three councils – the Executive Council, the Justice Council, and the Peoples’ Council – organized a protest and read a statement on Thursday, January 15, in the city of Qamishli. This protest was held in response to the ongoing escalation of systematic crimes and violations targeting women and unarmed civilians, particularly in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo.

This demonstration came as a clear political and social expression of rejection of the policies of killing, siege, starvation, and grave human rights violations. It was a cry of protest against the international silence and tacit complicity regarding the systematic attacks on civilians. It emphasized that targeting women is a direct attack on society as a whole and on the gains of the Rojava Revolution. The demonstration called on international and human rights organizations to assume their moral and legal responsibilities and to take urgent measures to stop the violations, protect civilians, hold perpetrators accountable, and safeguard human dignity and women's rights in North and East Syria and throughout Syria.

In a statement read by Vivian Bahou, from the Women's Coordination Committee in the Jazira Canton, she said, "We remember with pride and honor the martyrs Deniz Çiya, Ziyad Halab, Rojin Hasakah, Farashin Afrin, the martyr Amara, and the martyr Layla Qasim, along with all the martyrs who participated in the resistance in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods."

"Jihadists and mercenaries of the Turkish occupation committed massacres against civilians."

The statement affirmed that "the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods were subjected to systematic, repeated, and indiscriminate attacks by the interim government, with the participation of the Turkish state, using heavy weapons. These attacks targeted civilians, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, without any discrimination, in flagrant violation of all international laws and conventions. These attacks continued for five consecutive days, leaving widespread destruction and resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians."

The Coordination Committee believes that targeting civilians, homes, and buildings designated for humanitarian and educational purposes, such as hospitals and schools, constitutes a full-fledged war crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It directly contravenes the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, the

Additional Regulations to the Hague Convention of 1907, and the Rome Statute, which explicitly prohibit targeting civilians, ban indiscriminate attacks, criminalize murder, torture, and ill-treatment, and forbid attacks on medical personnel and hostage-taking. The Committee asserts that the killings and forced displacement perpetrated by the Transitional Government and the Turkish state against the Kurds in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods demonstrate a clear intent to commit genocide.

The statement condemned these crimes and violations, emphasizing that their commission constitutes crimes against humanity and reveals a criminal mentality targeting women and society to break their will and undermine their stability. It called upon the international community, the UN Secretary-General, and the guarantor states to assume their legal and moral responsibilities and work to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable. Referring them to the competent International Criminal Court, after opening a transparent and independent international investigation, ensures justice for the victims and that the perpetrators do not escape punishment.

"Demanding Redoubled Efforts to Uncover the Truth"

In its statement, the Women's Coordination Committee called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to protect the residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, as well as civilian and security institutions, particularly the Internal Security Forces. The Committee also demanded the protection of public and private property and accountability for the perpetrators of the heinous crime against the martyr Deniz Çiya, who mutilated and disposed of her body. This act, the Committee asserted, confirms that these violations stem from a deeply rooted ISIS mentality that continues to threaten all of humanity.

The statement also called on all women's, human rights, and humanitarian organizations to redouble their efforts to uncover the truth, amplify the voices of the victims, and provide necessary support to the residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, who are facing ongoing siege and attacks.

In closing, the Women's Coordination Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the resistance fighters, both men and women, and to the martyrs, pledging to follow in their footsteps and continue the struggle until the legitimate goals of our people for freedom and dignity are achieved. The Committee wished a speedy recovery to the wounded, emphasizing that their blood will remain a guiding light to victory.