General Coordinator of Syrian Women’s Council Lina Barakat: Turkish violations in Syria are met with international silence

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In an interview with SyriacPress, General Coordinator of the Syrian Women’s Council Lina Barakat spoke about the Council’s work since its founding in 2017.

The Council has carried out many activities aimed at empowering women socially, culturally, and economically, said Barakat, in addition to the role that the Council plays in cross-cultural bridge building.

The Council was also present on international platforms presenting projects to help women raise their economic and intellectual level to face the challenges of overcoming stereotyping and rigid traditional customs.

Turkey has played a negative role in the Syrian crisis, said Barakat, explaining that Turkey’s support for extremist elements who target women have had a devasting effect on the rights of Syrian women.

Turkey supports these groups financially and logistically, she continued, and has established many new groups that continue to carry out inhumane acts against, including deliberate demographic change against the minorities in the region and the enslavement of women and girls.

Barakat stated that after Turkey occupied Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn) and Tel Abyad, it attacked Ayn Issa despite the presence of Russian forces in the area, who have done nothing to prevent the Turkish attacks.

“All the Turkish-backed violations are met with international silence,” said Barakat. “Even international reports issued by the United Nations do not directly condemn Turkey or hold it accountable.”

“The ambitions of the Turkish state will not stop at North and East Syria, they are trying to restore the Ottoman Empire,” she concluded.