Massaker in Afrin: Witnesses report for the first time - Deutschlandfunk Kultur

Massaker in Afrin: Witnesses report for the first time - Deutschlandfunk Kultur

In the world time program of Deutschlandfunk Kultur, the terrible events in Afrin recently reported in 2018. Witnesses reported on the cruelty committed to civilians by Turkish troops and allied Islamist militia. These shocking revelations throw a new light on the events that have so far largely taken place in public.

The descriptions of the witnesses on massacres, sexualized violence and systematic torture are shocking. They told of horrific experiences in the prisons of the Turkish -controlled militias, where they were taken out naked, injured with razor blades and tortured with alcohol or vinegar. This information suggests that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed in Afrin.

Now the human rights organization Ecchr (European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) has filed a lawsuit against the leaders of several Islamist terrorist militias, with the indictment of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The lawsuit was submitted to the Federal Attorney General in Karlsruhe, and Deutschlandfunk Kultur was able to speak exclusively to the lawyers and witnesses of the massacres.

It can be seen that these shocking events are brought to court and that the principle of world law enables such crimes to pursue such criminal law. It is important that such atrocities do not remain unpunished and that justice is achieved for the victims and their families.

This is also of particular interest to the Berlin citizens, as the ECCHR is based in Berlin and from there submitted its lawsuit to the general prosecutor. It is an example of how the local community can play a role in international human rights work.

It remains to be hoped that the complaint of the ECCHR will be successful and that such atrocities can be prevented in the future. It is important that the international community condemns such crimes and takes measures to prevent them.

Here are some information about Afrin and the events in 2018:

| Event | Information |
| - | - |
| Turkish offensive in Afrin | At the beginning of 2018, Turkish troops marched and allied Islamist militias in the Kurdish Afrin in northern Syria | Displaced residents | Over 70 percent of the once residents were expelled |
| Lament of the Ecchr | Human rights organization ECCHR has filed a lawsuit against leader of Islamist terrorist militias for war crimes and crimes against humanity |
| Witnesses | Witnesses reported massacres, sexualized violence and systematic torture to civilians |

The program "World time" by Marc Thörner, in which the reports of the witnesses can be heard, is available online. It is important that such information is made accessible to the public so that the atrocities cannot be forgotten and justice can be obtained.

Source: Deutschlandradio / OTS