IZMIR – Addressing the silence of the international community, Berivan Aslan, a member of the Vienna Parliament for Austria’s Green Party (Die Grünen), said, “Because they define Syria as a ‘safe country,’ they do not want this narrative to be challenged. They remain silent because their political interests have changed.”

 

Following attacks carried out in Aleppo by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ISIS, and Turkey-backed paramilitary groups on neighborhoods predominantly inhabited by Kurds and Assyrians, the offensive has now turned toward Rojava. Numerous civilians have been killed in the attacks, while images circulating publicly and statements by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) indicate that war crimes have been committed. Meanwhile, the silence of the International Coalition and the broader international community regarding the attacks on Rojava continues.

 

Berivan Aslan, MP for Austria’s Green Party in the Vienna Parliament, spoke to our agency about the attacks on Rojava and the international community’s silence in the face of these developments.

 

Stating that the United States has shifted its position, Aslan said Europe’s silence stems from its desire to send refugees back. Pointing out that human rights violations are being ignored for this reason, Aslan said:

 

“Because they label Syria as a safe country, they do not want any alternative reflection of this thesis. They are silent because their political interests have changed. The actors responsible for the refugee crisis are regimes such as Iran, Damascus, and al-Colani. The Kurds resolved Europe’s security problem. They detained and imprisoned thousands of ISIS members and demanded that they be tried in international courts. Now we see that all ISIS members have been released from prisons. All of them have become a threat. Some of them are European citizens. They will return without difficulty to Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and elsewhere. Each of them will become a ticking time bomb. Since they act this way in line with their interests, we must also apply pressure and say: ‘You may think this serves your interests, but this is a wrong political calculation. By ignoring the human rights violations committed by the Syrian regime, you are causing more refugees and deepening further crises.’ Many human rights defenders and politicians like myself must put pressure on the foreign ministries in their respective countries.”

 

‘DIALOGUE MUST ALSO BE ESTABLISHED WITH PEOPLES’

 

Emphasizing that pressure should be exerted on the EU with the message “Either you recognize Rojava or you must guarantee the safety of all ethnic and religious communities there,” Aslan said:

 

“Security cannot be ensured solely through weapons; it must also be ensured through law and diplomacy. At present, there is a clear violation of international law. European countries must take a firm political stance against this unlawful situation. At the same time, they must support international judicial processes to ensure that ISIS criminals do not go unpunished. There is a major shortcoming among European actors today: they are only in contact with the Syrian regime. They are not engaging in dialogue with regional actors. This is a serious mistake. They must engage in dialogue with Mazloum Abdi, with Alevis, and with Yazidis. There are attacks targeting civilians, and pressure must be applied to stop them.”

 

‘EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MUST SIGNAL AN END TO VIOLENCE’

 

Calling on European countries to send clear signals to Turkey and the Syrian Transitional Government to halt the crisis and violence, Aslan said:

 

“Demands for autonomy exist in many countries. Federal systems exist in all democratic states—in Switzerland, in Italy. We have seen that these models protect themselves very well. Solutions should not be all-or-nothing. Inclusive models with constitutional guarantees must be sought. The focus should not be solely on armed struggle and weapons. There is a need for greater political and constitutional consensus.”

 

‘TURKEY SHOULD NOT PURSUE POLICIES THAT ENDANGER THE PEACE PROCESS’

 

Touching on the peace process in Turkey, Aslan stressed that the country is at a critical juncture. She said Turkey must adopt a responsible discourse that prioritizes regional peace:

 

“It should refrain from polarizing rhetoric that increases tension. After all, millions of Kurds live in Turkey. If it genuinely seeks peace, it must use constructive rather than destructive language. Unfortunately, I do not see this. For centuries, people in both Turkey and Syria have been tested by suffering and death. Social balances have shifted. The primary responsibility for reducing tensions and ending conflicts lies with the governments of Turkey and Syria. No matter what, I hope they pursue a future-oriented politics that avoids provocation and demonstrates political responsibility. This provocative language also endangers the peace process in Turkey.”

 

MA / Can Kırbaş