12 bar associations: Attack on Tishrin is a clear violation of international law
12 bar associations denounced the Turkish attacks against the Tishrin Dam, which they called “a violation of the rules of international and humanitarian law.”
People from North-East Syria have been holding a vigil at the Tishrin Dam since 8 January to protect their territory alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Women's Defense Units (YPJ) who are confronting ever-increasing attacks by the Turkish army and allied Syrian National Army (SNA) mercenaries.
While residents from the Cizire, Raqqa, Tabqa, and Euphrates cantons are taking turns in the vigil, the Turkish state and its proxies continue their relentless attacks on the protesters as well as the dam. Dozens of people have been killed or wounded as a result of Turkish aerial and ground attacks since the launch of the action. The Turkish and jihadist occupation forces launched their first attacks on the dam on December 8, 2024, the day of the overthrow of Syrian long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. The latest attack on Saturday, 18 January, claimed the lives of six civilians and left 20 others wounded.
12 bar associations in Turkey and North Kurdistan made a statement on the Turkish state's increasingly ongoing attack against civilians at the Tishrin Dam.
The statement paid tribute to Kurdish artist Bavê Teyar (Cuma Xelîl Îbrahim), who was among the victims of Saturday’s attack.
Calling the attack “a clear violation of international law”, the bar associations said and stressed that civilians must be protected under all circumstances.
The statement by the bar associations of Adıyaman, Ağrı, Batman, Diyarbakır, Iğdır, Hakkari, Mardin, Muş, Siirt, Urfa, Şırnak and Van provinces includes the following:
“While life has started to return to normal in other parts of Syria, the conflict in Northern and Eastern Syria has started to revive. In the latest attack on the Tishrin Dam, six civilians, including Kurdish artist Cuma Xelil Ibrahim (Bavê Teyar), were killed and fifteen civilians were wounded. May God rest the soul of the theater actor Bavê Teyar, a well-loved personality in Kurdish society, and the civilians who lost their lives, and may the wounded get well soon. This attack against civilians is a clear violation of international law. The protection of civilians in conflict is an international obligation. The Geneva Convention and the rules of humanitarian law must be respected.
Civilian deaths make it difficult to resolve issues through peaceful means and cause serious social trauma. As the undersigned Regional Bar Associations, we call on the international actors and community to take action against the civilian deaths in Northern and Eastern Syria.”
