Years later, Armenians who left their homes after their neighborhood fell under gang groups’ invasion have returned for a visit to the neighborhood they grew up in after YPG/YPJ forces liberated the eastern neighborhoods of the city.
Most of the Armenians in Syria lived in Aleppo, but they had to leave the lands they were born in after the war broke out in 2011 and gang groups like Al Nusra, Ahrar Al Sham, Jaysh Al Islam and Sultan Murat Brigade started their attacks and massacres. The primary place Armenians sought refuge in was the zones under YPG/YPJ control in Aleppo and Rojava.
ARMENIANS BACK IN THE LANDS THEY WERE BORN IN AFTER THE INVASION
Armenians who left their homes after the gangs invaded and sought refuge in Rojava, Lebanon and Armenia are returning to visit the neighborhoods they grew up in after years, following the liberation of Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods by YPG/YPJ forces.
Armenians visiting the liberated zones say that many Armenians left their homes and all their possessions behind to protect themselves from attacks and massacres and sought refuge in their homeland Armenia, Lebanon, Rojava or zones under YPG/YPJ control like Sheikh Maqsoud and Asrafiya.
Armenians visiting their neighborhoods after the invasion has been broken say that Armenians were affected worst by the current war in Syria, and they experienced a massacre similar to the great genocide in the 20th century.
Armenians say they are happy that the neighborhoods they grew up in were liberated by YPG/YPJ forces and that they want to return home as soon as possible. They say the Aleppan Armenian population was around 80 thousand before the war, but the population in Syria in general was reduced to around 15 thousand after the war, and that number is falling still.
VISIT TO BOSTAN PASHA DARECEZE
Armenians stress that all Armenian churches, foundations and homes were burned to the ground by the gangs. They visited the Armenian foundation Dareceze that was burned and looted by the gangs in Bostanpaşa neighborhood.
They spoke after the visit to Dareceze and said: “The peoples of Syria don’t deserve this war and destruction. Syrian Armenians and other peoples need to come together more now.
Armenians, Assyrians and Kurds are the most ancient peoples of the Middle East. Nobody can ignore these people. These people have reached a level today where they can manage their own self defense. In all areas of Syria, the fight for democracy and freedom continues under the lead of these forces. And victory will definitely be with the peoples who resist.
We would also like to thank the YPG and YPJ forces for defending our values and protecting our people. The YPG and YPJ forces have put forth very clearly in the 6 year long process that they are fighting for the freedom of all the peoples of Syria. We as the peoples of Syria are truly thankful to the YPG/YPJ forces.”
