RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- Women’s rights are violated in the region controlled by the central government in Damascus and women living in the occupied areas are subjected to violence, harassment, and rape. In Syria, women suffer not only from the loss of their houses, and properties but also from the loss of their relatives due to the war. Although three years have passed since the occupation of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî, Turkey and its paramilitary groups still continue to kill, threaten and rape the people and change the demographic structure of the regions. Zehra Semo, a member of the Serêkaniye Refugee Committee, spoke to NuJINHA about the situation in the occupied areas.

77 women were raped

Emphasizing that the rights violations committed by Turkey are inhuman practices, Zehra Semo said the committee was established in 2020 to support the refugees and displaced people to return to their hometowns.  Stating that they, as the committee, have monitored the situation of the people, particularly the situation of the women living in Serêkaniyê, she said, “We try to document the rights violations committed against women and children by the Turkish state and its mercenaries. According to our research, 423 people have been held in prisons located in Serêkaniye and Girê Spi. 55 of them are women and 15 of them are children. Until now, 77 women have been raped and four civilians have been killed in Serêkaniyê. We will continue to reveal the crimes committed by the Turkish state and its mercenaries.”

“The unity of the peoples was targeted”

Speaking about how Serêkaniyê is known for being home to the people from many nations, Zehra Semo said, “In Serêkaniyê, known for its cultural richness, all peoples further strengthened their unity under the umbrella of the Democratic Nation Project. Til Xelef is a historical place. The culture in Til Xelef is the culture of women. For this reason, Serêkaniyê was attacked twice. First, the unity of the peoples was targeted. The second attack was against the historical sites in Til Xelef. According to the reports we received from Serêkaniyê, the occupying Turkish state and Turkey-backed factions have been carrying out excavation work on the Til Xelf Hill and stealing historical artifacts after the occupation of Serêkaniyê.”

“People have suffered from water crisis”

Stating that holy places and cemeteries in Serêkaniyê have been turned into military bases, Zehra Semo said, “They have turned the area where Newroz ii celebrated every year into a military base this year. This shows that the occupying Turkish state wants to destroy all historical sites and build a new history for itself.” Zehra Semo also stated that the people of Hasakah have been suffering from economic and water crises since Serêkaniyê was occupied, “This is a dirty plan,” she added.

“Break your silence”

Emphasizing that what has been going on in the occupied areas is a war crime, Zehra Semo pointed out that crimes have been committed against women living in NE Syria in order to frustrate the Democratic Nation project. She underlined that the international community and human rights organizations keep silent although they have issued calls on the international community many times to stop these crimes. Zehra Semo calls on the international community and human rights organizations again to raise their voices against ongoing rights violations and crimes committed in occupied areas. "Break your silence," she said.