Human rights reports reveals Turkish occupation’s atrocities in Cafrin, Syria

CAFRIN, Syria — Amidst a backdrop of murders, kidnappings, property theft, and demographic manipulation, Human Rights Watch reported the harrowing reality of abuses perpetrated by the Turkish occupation state and its proxies. These egregious violations flagrantly breach international laws, posing grave threats to indigenous communities.

International watchdogs and human rights organizations have meticulously documented Turkey’s campaign of displacement and demographic engineering in Cafrin (Afrin) in northwestern Syria. Human Rights Watch underscored the displacement of indigenous Cafrin residents and the orchestrated resettlement of outsiders by Turkish forces.

United Nations Director at Human Rights Watch Louis Charbonneau condemned Turkey’s systematic expulsions of civilians from Cafrin, replacing them with settlers from disparate Syrian regions. Charbonneau characterized these actions as a brazen bid for demographic overhaul, exposing Cafrin’s populace to a litany of abuses ranging from torture and sexual violence to abduction.

Moreover, reports reveal a litany of atrocities committed by pro-Turkey militant factions against Cafrin’s indigenous populace, coinciding with the establishment of Gulf-backed settlements. These initiatives underscore Ankara’s concerted efforts to impose demographic shifts across northern Syria’s occupied territories.