MSDMarch 18, 2026 marks the eighth anniversary of the occupation of Afrin by Turkey and affiliated Syrian armed groups. This followed a period of strong resistance by the people of the region. The occupation led to the forced displacement of nearly 300,000 original residents. Many of them continue to face repeated displacement and lack access to basic living conditions.
Over the past eight years, the original Kurdish population of Afrin has been subjected to serious and well-documented violations, as reported by humanitarian and international organizations. These violations include killings, torture, confiscation of homes and land, and the forced displacement of civilians. They also include demographic changes in the region, destruction of public and private property, and the deliberate targeting of cultural sites and historical landmarks. In addition, these policies have contributed to the deterioration of the local environment and the imposition of a new administrative reality that does not reflect the will of the original population.
The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) affirms that addressing the situation in Afrin requires ending the Turkish and affiliated armed presence. It also requires restoring the region to its original residents, removing the consequences of the occupation, and ensuring the safe and dignified return of the displaced population.
The SDC considers that restoring rights and property, and reversing the imposed demographic and administrative changes, are essential for any fair and sustainable solution. It also views the recent return of 400 displaced families, under an agreement between the Syrian Interim Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a positive step. However, this step does not replace the need for a comprehensive solution that guarantees the return of all original residents to their homes and properties within a legal framework that protects their rights and dignity.
The SDC also reaffirms that it continues to closely follow the situation of Afrin’s displaced people, as well as all displaced Syrians. It considers the protection of their rights and the guarantee of their safe and dignified return to be a central element of any sustainable political solution that ensures stability and justice for all Syrians.
Syrian Democratic Council
March 18, 2026
