Sheikh Maqsoud Immigrants Association member Turkmen Selva said that the Turkish state targeted the democratic federal system by invading Jarablus and Al Rai in Northern Syria. Selva talked about the situation of Turkmens in Syria and their views on the democratic federal system to the ANF.

“THE TURKISH STATE AND THE SNC GANGS ARE HURTING TURKMENS”

Turkmen Selva said the Turkish state’s policies have hurt the Turkmen people greatly and added: “As the peoples of the region, we want to live equal and free in a democratic country.”

Selva stated that the Turkish state and the SNC gangs caused resentment toward the Turkmen people with their invasion attacks in the region and said that their villages were burned.

Selva stated that there are still people loyal to foreign forces among the Syrian peoples and pointed out Idlib, Azaz, Jarablus, Al Rai and the proximity of Bab. Selva said the forces that define themselves as Syrian opposition and acted under the guise of Turkmens are acting completely in line with the Turkish state and other foreign forces.

“KURDS SUPPORTED THE TURKMENS AND OTHER PEOPLES”

Selva pointed out that the Turkish state and the SNC gangs they support have committed massacres on the Turkmen people in Jarablus, Al Rai, Bab and Azaz, and added that the Turkmen people had to migrate from these areas and seek refuge in Afrîn and Sheikh Maqsoud.

Selva stated that the Turkmen people were forced to migrate by the Turkish state and SNC gangs from the surroundings of Bab as well recently, and said: “Turkmens lived through hell, especially after the Turkish state invaded Jarablus and Al Rai in Northern Syria and attempted to invade Al Bab. Groups like the Sultan Murat Brigade and Syrian Turkmen Front the Turkish state formed and supported, claiming they are Turkmens, burned and looted the Turkmen villages in Azaz, Jarablus and Al Rai.

With the invasion attempt in Al Bab, Turkmen homes were torn down. Turkmens had to migrate from Al Bab. There were migrations toward Manbij, Efrîn and Sheikh Maqsoud. Turkmens took refuge with the Kurds and YPG/YPJ forces. The Kurds helped us come back to life. The Kurdish people and the YPG/YPJ forces have supported the Turkmen people and other peoples in Efrîn and Sheikh Maqsoud in every way, moral and material, since the beginning of the war.”

“THE TURKISH STATE SHOULD LEAVE OUR LANDS AND THE TURKMENS ALONE”

Selva stated that the regions where Turkmens lived before were invaded by SNC gangs and then ISIS gangs, and added that they are now under the Turkish state’s invasion and attacks.

Selva said that the Turkmens want the regions under attack and invasion, especially Shehba, to be freed from both the SNC gangs and the Turkish state that actively supports them. Selva said: “It was the Turkish state that afflicted us with ISIS and other gangs for the last 6 years. Since August, they entered Shehba themselves. The AKP and Erdoğan are trying to use the Turkmens for their own interests.”

Selva pointed out that as Turkmens, they don’t accept this and added: “We are part of the Syrian peoples. We don’t want Erdoğan or his regressive, bloody system. We want a democratic, federal Syria.”

“THE TURKISH STATE ONLY BRINGS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION”

Selva stated that the Turkish state and the SNC gangs won’t bring anything but death and destruction to the peoples of Syria and called on the peoples of the world in the name of the Syrian Turkmens:

“The Turkish state is a murderer. They have committed massacres in Turkey and in Syria. Aleppo has become a city of ruins. Turkmen homes were burned and torn down by gangs Sultan Murat Brigade and Syrian Turkmen Front in Jarablus, Al Rai and Bab. All of our belongings were looted. The Turkish state played a huge part in this.

Thanks to the AKP and Erdoğan, Turkey is no different than Aleppo now. They tore down districts and cities with tanks and artilleries. They burned people alive. A state that does such destruction within their own country will only bring death and destruction to the peoples of Syria.”

Selva reiterated that as Turkmens, their preference is not death and blood, but democratic federalism that brings peoples together on the basis of equality, freedom and democracy and added that they will resist Erdoğan’s mercenary gangs until the end.

CALL FOR THE TURKMEN PEOPLE

Turkmen Selva stated that the Turkmen people also attended the Northern Syria Democratic Federal System Constituent Assembly meeting and called on all Turkmens for the building of a democratic Syria:

“All Turkmens should attend all efforts for Syria’s future. If we don’t join this historic process and this revolution, we will go through great hardships in the coming period. This new structure and the new system wants the unity and togetherness of all peoples. The democratic federal system doesn’t discriminate against any peoples or faiths and ensures freedom for all. All ethnic and faith groups will be able to govern themselves inside the democratic federal system.

My hope is that nobody believes the foreign powers, especially the Turkmens. Their goal is not to bring freedom and democracy to Syria but to disrupt them. I don’t want the Turkmens to be used in these powers’ games.”