The people of Girê Spî who had to flee away from their lands in the face of ISIS persecution have started to return to the town in groups after the YPG/YPJ and Burkan Al Fırat forces completed the searching and cleaning of the mines laid by the gangs in the town.

Following the liberation of Girê Spî on the 40th day of the Operation Commander Rubar Qamishlo, people from Girê Spî have started to return to the town. Early this morning, people have started to arrive at the border and crossed into Girê Spî over the wire fences at the border. The returnees are not allowed to use the border gate between Girê Spî and Akçakale is still held closed by Turkish authorities after being kept open during the times of ISIS occupation in the town. People have crossed the borderline over the wire fences at another point.

Around 5 thousand people have crossed the border into Akçakale in the first days of the clashes between ISIS gangs and the YPG/YPJ, Burkan Al Fırat forces to avoid being used as human shields, a tactic gang groups have desperately resorted to in an attempt to suffer heavier losses in the battle. At least 500 of those refugees have crossed into Girê Spî this morning.

Despite the happiness over the liberation of their town and their return, the people did not want their pictures to be taken, voicing an ongoing fear of the ISIS persecution.

An inhabitant from Girê Spî, Mehmet El Xelef, said they as 30 families had to take shelter in North Kurdistan, but wanted to return immediately after the liberation of the town. He added that they are mostly happy for the repulsion of the ISIS gangs from the town.

Commenting on the ISIS occupation on the town, El Xelef said the whole life was like torture to them and that 100 times whipping punishment was imposed on them for smoking a cigarette. “They were the decision makers for the clothes of the women even. They were not allowing women to wear something unblack. Many women were punished just because they wore red clothes”, he said.

Currently, hundreds of people continue to wait at the border in order to return to the liberated town. The number of the returnees is expected to increase throughout the day.