Life is turning back to normal in Girê Spî after its liberation as a result of a joint operation by YPG/YPJ and Burkan Al Fırat forces.

While the shops in the town have been opened again, the local people who fled the war and took refuge in Turkey are turning back home.

It is especially the Turkmen and Armenian inhabitants of the town that are refuting the claims of an 'ethnic genocide' committed by Kurds in the minorities left in the town, including Arab, Turkmen, Syriac and Armenians. The border crossing which was held closed for security reasons two days will reportedly be re-opened today.

The fall of ISIS-held Girê Spî which served as a buffer between the Rojava cantons of Kobanê and Cizîrê also means the opening of a corridor as lifeblood for Kobanê. With the opening of this corridor, delivery of humanitarian aid to Kobanê has begun already.

The liberation of Girê Spî has also rejoiced the Muslim and non-Muslim peoples that have been subjected to various kinds of punishment and repression under ISIS rule.

On contrary to the allegations of some media organs, the minorities in Girê Spî voice gladness and happiness over the liberation of the town for being an alternative to ISIS rule, although they are yet to see all the new implementations to be put into practice.

A number of Arab families have turned back home as life is turning back to normal in Girê Spî. A local inhabitant, İsmail Ali, who has re-opened his shop after return, stated that ISIS gangs intervened all societal circles, even the clothing of men and women. "It was compulsory for men to have a beard and women to wear burqa. We were anxious when ISIS left the town and YPG came here. There is, however, no problem at the moment and we are continuing our everyday life. We are comfortable now", he said.

Another inhabitant, Kurdish, Şeyho Hıdır, also said that ISIS terrorized the people after taking Girê Spî and subjected them to persecution, adding; "YPG has control over the town for a week now. The Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Armenian peoples are all living together. We have no prejudice against each other but some Arab circles organized by ISIS are straining every nerve to disrupt the order here. We will continue living together with all peoples in fraternity and with equal rights. ISIS was an evil which has been driven away now."

Another civilian Bedran Kahraman who also took part in the fight against ISIS said that the gangs laid mines in a number of places on Serêkaniyê-Mebruka-Girê Spi road during the liberation of the town. He said that the forces advancing from Serêkaniyê region opened alternative roads from the southern side of the road and managed to advance to Girê Spî by using them whilst also clashing with the gangs.

INTENSE SECURITY MEASURES IN THE TOWN

the villages and some houses at the town center which have been abandoned by ISIS have been declared risky areas for security reasons. Some of the villages are yet to be opened for settlement due to the mines still present, yet a small number of people are entering these villages in the wake of mine searches.

Security measures have been maximized at the town center in consideration of the ISIS emplacements in some areas 20 km to the town. The vehicles entering the town are being subject to a strict control at the check points set up at a number of points in the region. Similarly, YPG units have built mobile guard posts in some neighborhoods.

TURKMEN PEOPLE TURNING BACK HOME

The Turkmen people we came across and talked to in the streets of Girê Spî also refute the claims of an ethnic cleansing by Kurdish forces against minorities. The majority of the Turkmens live in the villages, while there are also some involved in trade at the center. Among them, brothers Mehmet Keçel and Hüseyin Keçel, told that their families have turned back to the town after taking refuge in Turkey during the times of war.

Mehmet Keçel said the YPG forces made no discrimination among the Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen and Armenian people, and made no harm to them, adding; "We want fraternity and peace, and to live together as the people of the same territory. There is nothing we cannot share."

Hüseyin Keçel, drawing attention to ISIS persecution, said that; "ISIS gangs were putting pressure on Kurds, driving them away from home, and forcibly taking money under the name of charity. It was forbidden to smoke cigarette. The men with mustache without beard were being punished."