Manbij residents have started to reorganize life in all facets, primarily assemblies, security and rebuilding institutions and they define the liberated city as a symbol for fraternity and common life.

Following the ISIS gangs’ invasion in 2014, Manbij and its surroundings became synonymous with ISIS, and now the people are organizing in every sphere of life and rebuilding everything.

EBU EHMED: THEY DELIBERATELY TARGET CIVILIANS

Manbij resident Ebu Ehmed said they breathed a sigh of relief after Manbij was cleared of ISIS gangs and pointed out the attacks on Manbij by the Turkish state and the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) gangs.

Ebu Ehmed said the Turkish state and SNC gangs deliberately targeted the positions of Manbij Military Council fighters and especially civilians around the Osecli village to the west of Manbij and continued: “I’m a 56 year old farmer. I support my family with farming. After the ISIS gangs invaded Manbij, our lives changed so drastically.

ISIS gangs pillaged the livelihood of the village. They confiscated the roadside fruit stands people put up to make a living, the businesses in the city, the cultivated land and the produce repeatedly, and called it tax.

Living had become very difficult. All Manbij residents were issuing call upon SDF and Manbij Military Council to liberate the city. SDF and the Manbij Military Council heeded the call of the people and ended the ISIS occupation in our city.

But after the ISIS threat was neutralized, the Turkish state and SNC gangs started to threaten our city with invasion. The Turkish state and SNC gangs want our city under invasion. That is why they have been murdering our civilian people with fighter jets and mortar fire for days.

They are targeting the positions of Manbij Military Council fighters. We strongly condemn the Turkish state’s attacks on our people and our fighters. Our children are in the Manbij Military Council. Our children protect our city. And we will continue to stand with our children.”

FATİMA EHMED: MANBIJ BLOOD IS ON THE TURKISH STATE’S HANDS

Fatima Ehme is a 70 year old farmer from Manbij and she also condemns the intensifying attacks of the Turkish state and SNC gangs. “If the Turkish state loved the people of Manbij so much, they would have protected us against ISIS, not watch them take over. I don’t see the slightest difference between ISIS gangs and the Turkish state,” said Ehmed and mentioned that the Turkish state provided arms for ISIS gangs.

Ehmed said the blood of the people of Manbij is on the Turkish state’s hands and continued: “The knives that beheaded our people, the guns, they were all given to ISIS gangs by the Turkish state. The SNC gangs love thievery, not the peoples of Syria. In Aleppo, Manbij and Jarablus, they pillaged our homes.”

Ehmed protested the Turkish state attacks by saying: “Why didn’t the Turkish state attack ISIS gangs with their jet fighters when we were invaded by them?” Ehmed mentioned that one of her sons is a fighter in the Manbij Military Council, and added that she will send her other son to join the ranks of MMC if the attacks continue. She concluded by saying, “Only our children can protect us.”

EBU XALİQ: THE TURKISH STATE IS ATTACKING THE UNITY OF PEOPLE

Ebu Xaliq, a 32 year old shepherd from Manbij, also protested the attacks of the Turkish state and SNC gangs.

Ebu Xaliq said, “Our Manbij Military Council fighters are ready for all extraordinary circumstances now. We see that the necessary security precautions are continued to be upheld without any slack. We are glad. Because we as the people of Manbij don’t want to return to the dark days again. All we want is to be free. To live together, Arabs, Kurds, Circassians, Turkmens. The Turkish state and SNC gangs are targeting this.”

Ebu Xaliq added that they don’t accept people being killed by fighter jets, and said: “We will stand with our Manbij Military Council fighters. Because they saved us, liberated us. Because they are our fathers, brothers, children. Despite the gangs serious damaging and pillaging homes and shops, our people now continue to rebuild their city and their life with greater conviction and solidarity, and they continue their daily life free.”

EYŞA MUSA: WHERE ARE THOSE WHO SPEAK OF HUMAN RIGHTS?

A woman named Eyşe Musa said the Turkish state attempted to break the will of the people of Manbij and evacuate the city with the aerial attacks.

Eyşa Musa said the people will never leave the city, and continued: “We condemn the Turkish state hitting our villages with fighter jets. We condemn all who are silent in the face of this. The Turkish state is killing civilians with their fighter jets. They hit the positions of Manbij Military Council. Where are those who speak of human rights? We didn’t leave our land and we never will. We will do whatever that takes. We will defend our land and our children.”