I just wanted to add to the growing chorus and remind people that none of these refugees are from Afrin.
You cannot just be given sombody's house by another country's occupation army. This is an openly stated goal which amounts to a war crime.
You cannot just be given sombody's house by another country's occupation army. This is an openly stated goal which amounts to a war crime.
Turkey, for its part, has not been silent on the goal of changing the demographics of the region.
Erdogan himself stated he would "return Afrin to its rightful owners" and expell a percentage of the Kurds he deemed came later.
Erdogan himself stated he would "return Afrin to its rightful owners" and expell a percentage of the Kurds he deemed came later.
Afrin is the one contiguously Kurdish populated area im Syria. It is the only area with an overwhelming Kurdish majority and no attempt by the central government at any time to change that demographic reality.
Turkey is now going to challenge this.
Turkey is now going to challenge this.
The Kurds of Afrin have been unlucky in two ways. Firstly, their isolation from the SDF contiguous area has made them dependent on those around them for continued survival.
Secondly, and this is more important, they are close to the Mediterranean sea.
Secondly, and this is more important, they are close to the Mediterranean sea.
Turkey is aware that the Kurds are a demographic time bomb. Oppression cannot work against a population that is approaching eventual parity or even majority within your state.
If they live in too many areas close to the sea, they might one day claim an area for a viable state.
If they live in too many areas close to the sea, they might one day claim an area for a viable state.
Hence, now there is an open and unashamed push to reduce the Kurdish population of Afrin (and possibly South East Turkey when Parliament gives the green light) by making use of desperate refugees simply wanting to return to their state.
The EU won't say a word as ethnic cleansing in Syria is not actually a priority, returning potential migrants to Syria is however a priority.
The US is currently attempting rapprochement with Turkey and thus won't demonstrate at this either.
The US is currently attempting rapprochement with Turkey and thus won't demonstrate at this either.
In fact, no actor has any material gain through denouncing the war crime about to be committed in Afrin.
This puts into severe doubt the world's stated objection of ethnic cleansing on moral amd ethical grounds. Rather it seems it is now political opposition to the perpetrator.
This puts into severe doubt the world's stated objection of ethnic cleansing on moral amd ethical grounds. Rather it seems it is now political opposition to the perpetrator.
