In a damning report released today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Turkey of orchestrating a series of grave human rights abuses and potential war crimes in areas it occupies in northern Syria. The report highlights the disproportionate impact on Kurdish residents who have borne the brunt of these atrocities.

According to HRW, Turkish forces and proxy militias operating in Turkish-occupied territories of northern Syria have been responsible for a range of abuses including killings, abductions, displacement, and sexual violence. The report asserts that Ankara bears direct responsibility for these actions as the occupying power.

The operations conducted by Turkey since 2016, aimed at expelling Kurdish fighters from the region and establishing a "safe zone," have resulted in widespread violations against Kurdish residents. HRW notes that Kurds are targeted due to their perceived ties to Kurdish-led forces in the region, which Turkey alleges are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The report also highlights the plight of Arab and other minority groups with ties to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who have also been affected by the Turkish military campaigns.

Instances of sexual violence, including rape, against Kurdish women detainees, as well as the detention of children as young as six months old alongside their mothers, have been documented by HRW.

The Syrian National Army (SNA), a coalition of militias backed by Turkey, has been implicated in arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture, and unfair military trials, with impunity being the norm for those responsible.

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted three offensives against Kurdish-majority towns near the border, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. HRW criticizes the lack of accountability for these actions, noting that officials responsible for human rights abuses have yet to be prosecuted.

Despite repeated inquiries by HRW, Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, have failed to respond to allegations of abuses in Turkish-controlled territories of northern Syria.

In response to the report, Adam Coogle, Deputy Middle East Director at HRW, condemned Turkey's occupation, stating that it has facilitated a climate of abuse and impunity rather than a "safe zone" as claimed by Ankara.

The report underscores the urgent need for accountability and justice for the victims of these egregious violations in northern Syria.

This report adds to the growing international scrutiny of Turkey's actions in Syria and calls for concerted efforts to address the ongoing human rights crisis in the region.