The Turkish state and gangs are committing a war crime against women and girls in Afrin which is under their invasion. A mother who revealed the savagery while looking for her 14-year-old missing girl says; “What was done in Shengal is being done here now. The whole world must see this vileness.”

Invasion attacks of the Turkish state and jihadist gangs derived from ISIS and Al-Qaeda against Afrin Canton of Northern Syria continue for the third month. The savagery continues during genocidal attacks following the invasion of the city with the ultimate goal of de-Kurdifying the region. More war crimes are being committed in the region under invasion on daily basis. Looting the houses and shops of the people, eradicating traces of Kurdishness, shooting people on the streets, Turkish invaders and affiliated gangs are also targeting women. What was done by ISIS in Shengal before, where women were taken captive and subjected to systematic rape, is being done by Turkish forces in Afrin today.

ABDUCTION, CAPTIVITY, RAPE

According to reports, dozens of girls and women have been abducted so far in the Afrin city which was invaded on March 18. Those abducted are being held in some houses near the Vilayat Street in the city center, and subjected to systematic sexual assaults by Turkish soldiers.

WITNESS STATEMENTS CONFIRM THE ALLEGATIONS

A civilian residing in Afrin’s Mahmudiyah neighborhood, whom we will not mention by name for security reasons, told the following; “They have entered our houses and took all our valuable belongings since the day they came. They took all the gold, white goods and everything else away loading them on trucks. Then they gathered the people who remained in the city, and separated men and women in different areas. We were hearing the screams of women. I do not know what they did to them. They tortured us men, saying “you are supporters of terrorists, we will take all your belongings and women.”

SOME WERE NOT SET FREE

We were released after two days without food and water but some girls and women did not return. They were taken somewhere else and we do not know where. Two girls ages 14-15 are among those they took away.”

LEARNED ABOUT THE SITUATION WHILE LOOKING FOR HER DAUGHTER

The witness stated that the two girls, whom they have not heard about since March 22, are named F.H. and H.A.

Mother of H.A., whom we talked on the phone, stated that they have been trying secretly to find the two girls for days, and in the meantime they met with several families who have not heard from their girls either.

The mother told that women cannot go out in the street, so they wear burqa and look for their daughters.

“While looking for my daughter, I found out that many other girls are missing. As much as I myself learned, there are 15 girls missing and they are aged between 14 and 20. This is the number I have managed to find out only in the neighborhood I live.”

SHENGAL PRACTICE OF ISIS

According to what the mother has managed to learn from an Arab family that has close relations with the Turkish soldiers and gangs in the city, the abducted girls and women are held in some houses near Vilayat Street in the city center.

“They are keeping our children here. They have settled in the houses in that area and are not allowing anyone to approach there. What ISIS did in Shengal is being done here now. Our children are held captive and they are raped by the gangs. The world must see this vileness.”

TOURING THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND GATHERING YOUNG GIRLS

Another resident, an Arab in his/her own statement, confirmed the statements of the witness we spoke to, and the war crimes committed by the invading Turkish army and gangs in Afrin, telling; “A gang leader from the Turkish-affiliated Hamza Brigade is touring the neighborhoods and gathering young girls. They are taking these girls to the houses on Vilayat Street, presenting them to Turkish officers and gang members.”