Brussels, 06 February 2025
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Rojava vs. Turkey convened yesterday in Brussels to investigate Turkey’s alleged war crimes in North and East Syria. The tribunal, hosted by the Free University of Brussels (VUB), has brought together human rights activists, legal experts and survivors of Turkey’s military operations to present compelling evidence of ethnic cleansing, targeted attacks on civilians and ecological destruction in the region.
Despite being invited to defend itself, the Turkish government refused to participate, resulting in a trial in absentia. The proceedings began with a speech by Prof. Gerrit Loots (VUB), who emphasised the importance of the tribunal: “We are here for this important tribunal and the hearings will continue for two days. With the support of the VUB, we stand for the protection of human rights and the defence of Rojava. Rojava is a place where women’s liberation and democracy are being built, and we will defend it.”
Legal experts Ceren Uysal and Jan Fermon presented the Tribunal’s indictment, detailing Turkey’s systematic violations of international law. Uysal said: “Turkey is carrying out ethnic cleansing in the region, which is a crime against humanity. It continues to violate the very conventions to which it is a signatory, deliberately targeting both civilians and vital infrastructure in a war crime”. Highlighting Turkey’s use of water control as a form of collective punishment, Fermon said, “Turkey is seizing control of water networks, endangering public health and forcing local populations to leave. This is not just a humanitarian issue; it is a calculated strategy to demographically reshape the region.
Fermon also pointed to documented cases of economic exploitation, noting: “The unbiased documents confirm that Turkish forces looted the olive oil industry in Afrin (Efrîn) and sold Kurdish products under the Turkish brand. Factory machinery from Afrin has been stolen and taken to Turkey in an act of economic plunder. Street names in Afrin have been changed to Turkish and Arabic, erasing Kurdish heritage. Religious manipulation is being used to expand Turkey’s influence in the region.
Uysal presented evidence of ongoing Turkish airstrikes, including attacks on civilians defending the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam – a vital source of water and energy in northern and eastern Syria. It named Turkish President Erdoğan and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler as responsible and called for an arms embargo against Turkey.
Lawyer Efstathios C. Efstathiou gave a detailed account of Turkey’s crimes in Afrin, describing the mass displacement of Kurds, extrajudicial killings of civilians and forced demographic engineering. Activist Öz Karahan drew parallels between Turkey’s occupation of Afrin (Efrîn) and its historical policies in Cyprus, where similar mass displacements and property confiscations took place.
Following the panel discussions and testimonies, the Tribunal took a short break before continuing with further testimonies.
Today’s session will focus on Turkey’s use of prohibited weapons, attacks on women and children, and the ongoing military aggression in northern and eastern Syria.
You can follow by Live-Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od9VcyUg8Gg
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Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal Press-Team
+31 686 45 30 55
press@rojavapeoplestribunal.org
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) – Campus Etterbeek – Gebouw Q: Aula QA – Brussels