Attacks of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups against Kurds in Northern Syria or Rojava – an appeal

grieving relatives

Photo: AFP / Dimitar Dilkoff

The Appeal of Kurdish Communities in Southern California-Open letter to US, EU, UN, Turkey, and Human rights Organizations  on Attacks of Al-Qaeda affiliated Groups against Kurds in Northern Syria or Rojava (Western Kurdistan)

We members of the Kurdish Communities throughout Southern California  express  our deepest concern and utmost  outrage at the recurrent religious violence unleashed against  innocent Kurdish civilians and local Kurdish security forces in Northern Syria or Rojava  (in Kurdish, Western Kurdistan) by  al-Qaeda linked armed gangs. The Kurdish media, NGOs  and  Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) have reported that the Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), armed bands, have been laying siege to Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) and civilians, killing, kidnapping, looting, imprisoning, and torturing civilian populations.

Numerous accounts of massacres have been reported; hundreds have been turned into refugees after their homes and belongings were looted and destroyed, overwhelming the already overcrowded refugee camps.  Since July 18, 2013, the lives of tens of thousands of Kurds and members of other religious and ethnic minorities are being threatened by the legacy of and savagery and hatred for which these bands are notorious.

The current situation can deteriorate rapidly unless terrorist acts of such groups are denounced and stopped. These acts of terrorism threaten all religious and ethnic minorities in the region. Ironically there is irrefutable evidence that some states such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supporting these armed extremists. Although Turkey has recently shown signs of distancing itself from Al Nusra, such a disassociation has not been unequivocal. In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international conventions, we call upon all human rights organizations, the UN and the EU to condemn and bring to an end the heinous crimes that are being perpetrated against Kurds and other minorities. Other countries should join the US in condemning the violent acts of these extremist groups. The states that have been implicated in their support such groups are accountable for the crimes that are committed. Hundreds of people have been killed, injured, displaced, many have been taken hostage and the recurrent attacks will lead to more deaths and destructions in vulnerable areas that have been under severe economic blockade.

We urge all human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch to launch an independent investigation of these crimes. In light of a long standing economic embargo that the local population has been facing, it is also critical that international aid organizations and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) take prompt measures to provide the local populations with relief assistance. The victims of recent attacks and the increasing number of refugees need relief aid to survive the unfolding disaster.  Thousands of refugees including children and women cannot survive without emergency and humanitarian aid and protection from the threat of the inquisitional and criminal rule of the Islamist armed gangs.

Cordially

Dr.Amir Sharifi

Director of Kurdish Human Rights Advocacy Group

Cc to:

U N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

U.S Department of State: John Kerry

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner in Europe

Council of Europe: Office of the Commissioner on Human Rights

Turkish General Consul

Human Rights Watch

Amnesty International

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

 

2 Responses to Attacks of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups against Kurds in Northern Syria or Rojava – an appeal
  1. Kurdistan
    August 16, 2013 | 02:16

    Obama’s admin is directly supporting these radical islamists and terrorists.

  2. […] Attacks of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups against Kurds in Northern Syria or Rojava – an appeal &#… – 8/15/2013. […]

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