Syrian Democratic Forces call on U.N. to open investigation into destruction and exhumation of cemetery in Cafrin (Afrin)

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In a statement addressed to the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Public Relations Office called for an urgent investigation and the dispatch of a special mission to investigate the recent exhumation of a cemetery in Cafrin (Afrin) in northwestern Syria by Turkey. The statement called for DNA tests, the recording of testimonies of the victims’ families, and the transportation of the exhumed bodies with U.N. guarantees and protection to detect and transport the bodies for respectful burial in a new cemetery.

According to the statement, the SDF has the documents of some of the civilian and military victims buried in the cemetery.

The SDF condemned Turkey, its Syrian National Army (SNA) proxies, and all those who partook in the destruction of exhumation of the cemetery which is contrary to international human rights law.