Syrian Kurdish PYD leader says Turkey must get rid of its ‘Kurdophobia’
Posted on
June 17, 2015
BRUSSELS,— In his evaluation of (Tel Abyad) Gire Spî’s
liberation to ANF, the co-president of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), the biggest Kurdish party in Syrian Kurdistan, Salih Muslim, stated that Islamic State group (IS) militants’ lifeblood has been cut with the victory. Muslim criticized the discourse of Erdogan and some AKP officials on the liberation of Gire Spî, and said that it was now time to get rid of Kurdophobia. At the end of the Commander Rubar Qamişlo Initiative, Gire Spî (Tel Abyad) was cleared of IS militants and the cantons of Kobani and Jazeera of Syrian Kurdistan were united by Kurdish YPG-YPJ and Burkan El Fırat forces after 2 years of IS occupation.
‘Islamic State lifeblood has cut’
In his statement, Muslim emphasized the multi-dimensional importance of Girê Spî’s liberation and the union of Kobani and Jazeera cantons, and said that IS’ lifeblood has been cut and the 2 years-old embargo on Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) has been weakened. Muslim emphasized the logistical importance of the town for IS militants in Syria and said that the operation will prevent the transportation of future aid into IS hands. Muslim said that the Akçakale border gate will no longer function as an IS headquarter and be controlled by YPG and united forces.
‘Turkey must get rid of its Kurdophobia’
PYD Co-President criticized the discourse of Erdogan and some AKP officials on the liberation of Gire Spî, and said that it was now time to abandon the position of defending IS and get rid of Kurdophobia. Muslim highlighted the harmony and diversity of life in Syrian Kurdistan, and said that they never formed a threat against Turkey. Muslim stated that the Turkish fear of YPG is unnecessary and that they are determined to ensure the security of people on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian Kurdistan border.
‘Protecting civilians has always been a YPG priority’
Muslim stated that the news of civilians being victimized by YPG is part of a smear and anti-propaganda campaign carried out by forces that are not pleased by YPG power and influence in the region. Muslim said that protecting civilians has always been a YPG priority, and that they even defeated IS’ attempts to use civilians as human shields. Müslim added that YPG has also been calling on civilians to return to their homes but also be wary of mines and traps IS gangs left behind before the liberation of Gire Spî.
‘Civilian administration must be formed in Tel abyad’
Muslim said that a civilian administration must be formed in Tel Abyad once the town is fully cleared of gangs’ dangers. Muslim emphasized YPG efforts to ensure the return and protection of all civilians, and said that Tel Abyad would be a center of life where different peoples live equally and democratically. He criticized Turkey’s attempts to use civilians who have escaped IS brutality for its own political agenda, and said that civilians have been escaping war and brutality not just by seeking refuge in Turkey but also by going to places like Qamişlo. Muslim reminded that thousands of Arab refugees live in Kobani and Afrin, and called on Turkey to stop using refugees’ plights for security as some sort of political material.
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