On March 1, 2024, two civilians, identified as Wes Shikhi and Naqshi Adnan Bouzan, sustained varying wounds and fractures at the hands of personnel from the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) Revolutionary Youth [al-Shabiba al-Thawriya], who attacked them during a peaceful celebration organized by the Kurdish National Council, heldat the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK-S) headquarters in Ein al-Arab ‘Koubani’ city in eastern rural Aleppo governorate. The celebration was held to mark the 45th anniversary of the death of Mela Mustafa Barzani, the spiritual father of the Kurdish Nation. The SDF personnel assaulted the participants, beating them with batons, and wrecking and burning the furnishings and celebratory decorations at the venue. The area is under the SDF’s control.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) condemns this assault on civilians. We hold the SDF responsible for the unprovoked assault, and call on the group to launch an investigation into the incident and to hold those responsible accountable. We also call on the group to ensure that there is no future recurrence of such violence, and that civilians and public facilities are protected.