The Turkish state and affiliated armed groups continue their attacks on the regions of North and East Syria. Civilians, including women and babies, are targeted and massacred in air and ground attacks. In occupied Afrin, Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê, war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed since the beginning of Turkey’s occupation campaign.

According to international human rights organizations and UN reports, demographic change, forced displacement, looting, abduction, sexual assaults against women, and extrajudicial killings are systematically perpetrated in these regions. In addition, historical and cultural heritage is being destroyed.

The crimes committed by the Turkish state in North and East Syria and the occupied territories were addressed by the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT), which convened in Brussels, Belgium on February 5-6. The session was called the “Rojava People's Tribunal” and was also attended by Domenico Gallo, an Italian judge renowned in the field of international law. Judge Gallo spoke to ANF about the crimes committed in Rojava.

‘There is strong evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity’

“Through these crimes in Rojava, the Turkish state aims to destroy the identity, culture and even the living conditions of the Kurdish people,” Judge Gallo stated, noting that the two days of hearings provided strong evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity in northern and eastern Syria. "It was shocking to hear the testimonies, the suffering and the acts of violence, especially against women and children," he said.

‘The attacks constitute grave crimes against the Kurdish people’

Stating that the international community is not sufficiently aware of what is happening in the region, Gallo said: “Despite the formation of a new government in Syria, the attacks by the Turkish state continue. Since the new government is an ally of Turkey, it turns a blind eye to Turkey's violation of Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty. These attacks, which constitute grave crimes against the Kurdish people, are a clear violation of international law.”

‘Turkey is carrying out terrorist acts against the Kurdish population in Rojava’

Underlining that the Turkish state is directly responsible for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in northern and eastern Syria, Gallo said: “The Turkish government and President Erdoğan, as the de facto leaders of the Syrian National Army (SNA), are directly responsible for the crimes committed in the region. Erdoğan is trying to legitimize these attacks by presenting them as operations against terrorism. In reality, however, it is Turkey itself that is carrying out terrorist acts against the Kurdish population in Rojava.”

‘The impunity enjoyed by Turkey must end’

Stating that the decisions of the Rojava Peoples' Tribunal established in Brussels will be important, Gallo said: “One of the main objectives of the Tribunal was to publicize the realities in the region and raise collective awareness. Because it is the mobilization of public opinion that will give practical effect to the steps to be taken within the framework of international law.”

Criticizing the silence of the international community in the face of the grave crimes committed in the region, Gallo said: “The international community must react and take action. The impunity enjoyed by Turkey must end. It is precisely this impunity that allows a continuation of these crimes.”

Domenico Gallo

Magistrate, he has been serving in the Court of Cassation since 2007, recently taking on the role of President of the Chamber. He was elected Senator in 1994. He has actively participated in the association life and civil society movements active on the theme of peace and the defense of human rights. He has edited numerous publications on issues related to institutional and human rights issues. In 2013 he published "Da sudditi a cittadini il percorso della democrazia" (Ega). He collaborates with the newspapers Il Manifesto and Il fatto quotidiano.