ANKARA - Members of the European Parliament François Alfonsi, Andreas Schieder and Nikolaj Villumsen called on the EP on behalf of the Kurdish Friendship Group to take action against Turkey's attacks on Rojava.

 

Turkey, which has been continuing its attacks against Rojava for days, continues to bomb civilian settlements and living spaces. Against these attacks by Turkey, European Parliament members François Alfonsi, Andreas Schieder and Nikolaj Villumsen called to the EP on behalf of the Kurdish Friendship Group and said, "Staying silent in the face of these crimes and dangers is definitely not an option."

 

'Stop Turkey'

 

In the call written, “We write as Turkish bombs and shells are targeting and destroying vital civilian infrastructure, leaving millions without power, water, and gas, and after Turkey’s President Erdoğan has publicly announced his intention to continue these attacks. We request you, as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to protest on behalf of the European Union against Turkey’s unprovoked aggression and war crimes being carried out against the people of the Democratic and Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and to use the power of your office to put pressure on the Turkish government to stop.

 

People are hungry, without electricity and water

 

Despite ceasefires negotiated by the United States and Russia in 2019, Turkey has kept up constant low-level attacks on the region, undermining efforts at stability. Now, for the third time in 3 ½ months, they have bombed sites essential for daily life. Since 13 January, they have destroyed power stations, oil fields (the region’s main source of revenue), homes, warehouses, factories, and other civilian buildings. Many of these places had just been brought back into action with emergency repairs after the previous attack. Two million people are without electricity. No power means no water that relies on pumps, reducedmedical care, no ovens for bread, no functioning schools or universities, and huge economic damage. The region’s only gas-bottling plant has also been destroyed. People are left unable to heat their homes or get gas for cooking.

 

The region has never posed a threat to Turkey

 

The targeting of vital infrastructure is itself a war crime and these attacks are also an unprovoked act of aggression. The region has never posed a threat to Turkey. Indeed, their Syrian Democratic Forces have spearheaded the fight against ISIS, alongside the International Coalition. They are vital allies of the Coalition, who recognise that the SDF is separate and independent of the PKK. Yet whenever the PKK carries out an action in Turkey or against Turkish forces in Iraq, Turkey strikes civilian targets in Syria. If their claim that this is covered by the Right to Defence is not challenged, that sets a very dangerous precedent indeed.

 

Silence in the face of these crimes and dangers is simply not an option

 

These attacks also pose a physical danger for Europe. They are targeted to destroy regional stability and are creating conditions that could allow a revival of ISIS. Immediately, they make it harder for the SDF to guard the many thousands of ISIS prisoners that have been abandoned to their charge, and just yesterday,(16 January) there was an attempted breakout from the prison housing ISIS prisoners in Hasaka, following a rocket strike.  Silence in the face of these crimes and dangers is simply not an option.