The war in Iraq turned into a great sectarian war between the Sunni and the Shia, and many Shia Turkmens who lived in Tal Afar were forced to move or were massacred by ISIS. When forces allied to the Iraqi Central Government launched the Mosul operation, they turned to Tal Afar. And then, Sunni Turkmens crossed over to Northern Syria, fearing a massacre by the Shia. Most of them settled in Raqqa and Tabqa. Now they are moving to safe zones liberated by the SDF.

Among the 5 thousand migrants and refugees from Tabqa, there are many Sunni Turkmen families from Tal Afar who moved to Raqqa from Iraq. Although they are said to be fleeing the Hashdi Shabi Shia forces, the Turkish state and ISIS are seen as the reason for this migration. Z.E. who wished to stay anonymous spoke on the matter and said the Shia and the Sunni can coexist if foreign powers like ISIS and Turkey move out of the region. Z.E. shows the reality of ISIS and the Turkish state by these words.

4-MONTH LONG ESCAPE

Speaking to ANHA, Z.E., a woman who wished to remain anonymous from one of these Turkmen families. Z.E.’s family moved out of their home on November 16, 2016 because of the aerial attacks on the Tal Afar Airport close to their home.

Their move out of Iraq continued to Northern Syria, and the family passed many conflict zones. They crossed Abu Kamal, Salihiye and Disheshe, and came to Al-Karama town in Raqqa, recently liberated from ISIS. Z.E. said they were in a different place every day during their escape and continued: “We are tired of war. We crossed the Euphrates last night to get here. My 6-month old baby almost drowned in the water. We passed through every conflict zone. We were looking for a place without war where our children could live. We want to live, just like other peoples. Our wish is to have a life without war and migration. Don’t we have the right to do so?”

All families including Z.E.’s family are placed in the refugee camp on their demand after the security measures and registration, or they move on to other regions. Z.E. wants a safe life, and said that now that they are out of the war, it doesn’t matter which safe zone they stay in. She said they want to stay in a camp or a safe place where they can live in relative comfort.

After the 4-month long escape, the family arrived in the liberated Raqqa village, and waited for the security measures to be completed to settle in a camp in Syria. Z.E. said: “All the people of Tal Afar have become migrants and refugees, they are miserable outside. The children have no future anymore. Women and the elderly have suffered living out on the open land.”

“SAVE TAL AFARI CIVILIANS”

There was disease and sorrow on Z.E.’s child’s face. According to Z.E., many of her relatives lost their lives on the road and were buried in fields. Z.E. said: “Even now, many families are under bombardment in besieged regions. The Iraqi Government and other states should move in to save them. We want all our relatives to be saved.”

"ISIS AND TURKEY WANT THE SHIA-SUNNI CONFLICT TO DEEPEN"

Z.E. mentioned that the Turkish state supposedly entered the region to protect the Turkmens from Tal Afar and added: “You can see how the Shia and the Sunni coexist in peace in Tal Afar once the foreign powers stop meddling. We used to live together in the past. Many peoples lived together in our region, when foreign groups lie Turkey and ISIS started the war, a civil war broke out in the region. ISIS and Turkey want to deepen the Sunni-Shia conflict in the region.”