”We, intellectuals, writers, artists, politicians and human rights defenders, seek to draw urgent attention to the Turkish state’s invasion in Northern Syria and Rojava.

The Turkish army invaded the Northern Syrian City of Jarablus on 24 August 2016, using anti-ISIS  operations as a pretext. The operation was in collaboration with the Syrian arm of El-Qaida (Jabhat Fatah al-Sham) and groups like Ahrar El-Sham.

ISIS handed over the city, Jarablus, without a single bullet being fired. This is a clear indication that there was a prior agreement between the parties that Jarablus would remain as a base for Salafi
groups. Therefore, Jarablus will remain as a corridor for foreign fighters to cross into Syria to receive training and then to cross back over in order to be distributed throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Sign the Petition

From the third day of the operation (26 August 2016) onwards the attacks have been directed at Kurdish Forces, the Jarablus Military Council and the Minbij Military Council. Northern Syria has
been largely cleansed of ISIS by these forces with the support of the international coalition lead by theUS. By attacking these forces, Turkey is both interrupting the fight against ISIS and strengthening ISIS.

Tayip Erdogan and other Turkish authorities officially announced the purpose of the operation, at the outset, as the targeting of Kurdish forces alongside ISIS. Turkish army has engaged in airstrikes and shelling of civilian areas, killing at least 45 in two villages south of Jarablus.