ANKARA - ÖHD has made a second appeal to the UN regarding Rojava, stating, ‘The Kurds and all peoples living in Rojava are facing the threat of extinction. The attacks must be stopped immediately.’

 

The Association of Free Lawyers (OHD) sent a second urgent letter to numerous institutions and organisations, including the UN Human Rights Committee, the Committee Against Torture, the Presidency of the Council of Europe, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the World Health Organisation, condemning the attacks by HTS and affiliated gangs on Rojava, their killing of civilians, and their imposition of an embargo on basic necessities such as medicine, water, electricity, and food. OHD sent its first letter on 15 January and its second on 23 January.

 

'Crimes against humanity have been committed'

 

The letter stated that the QSD had spent more than 10 years building a system in which all peoples lived together equally, fighting against DAISH, which threatened all the peoples of the world, and that since 6 January, HTS had been attacking and trying to destroy the people. “Serious war crimes, crimes against humanity and grave violations have been committed against the Kurds, who are fighting against ISIS and protecting humanity alongside other peoples, from the perspective of human rights law. Despite our urgent appeal and that of many other civil society organisations, international mechanisms have failed to take action.”

 

OHD listed the following demands in the letters sent to institutions:

 

“ *Immediate cessation of attacks on Rojava and urgent intervention to ensure the safety of the people living in Rojava,

 

*The Syrian Interim Government must be urged to immediately cease the attacks, and the international community must take action on this matter,

 

*The United Nations Security Council to activate the referral mechanism to the International Criminal Court and to implement all effective mechanisms to initiate investigations into crimes,

 

*The creation of safe zones and the opening of humanitarian aid corridors to protect civilians in the region, 

 

*Urging the international community to recognise and protect the legal and political status of Rojava in accordance with international law, and calling on all relevant institutions and individuals to take action to stop this massacre, which could engulf the entire Middle East if it continues.