Lelun Afrin

The undersigned Syrian civil society organisations and international and regional organisations welcome the renewal of the mandate of the International Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council. We underscore the continued importance of the Commission’s investigations, public reporting, and efforts to support accountability, which remain critical, and call for sustained support to ensure …

27 April 2026 The undersigned Syrian victims’ associations and civil society organizations affirm that transitional justice constitutes a fundamental pillar of any serious path toward building sustainable peace and stability in Syria. It is impossible to envision a genuine political and social transition toward a state based on equal citizenship, rights and duties, and the rule of law without addressing …

Introduction On March 21, during Nowruz celebrations, the Afrin region and the areas connecting it to the city of Aleppo witnessed a widespread wave of violations and attacks targeting the Kurdish population. These incidents were accompanied by hate speech and incitement directed against the Kurdish community. The documented violations included the blocking of roads, arbitrary arrests, acts of torture, and …

Today marks the eighth anniversary of “Operation Olive Branch,” launched on January 20, 2018. The operation concluded on March 18, 2018, with Turkish-backed Syrian National Army factions taking control of the Syrian region of Afrin. This was accompanied by serious violations affecting civilians, their property, and their fundamental rights. The operation marked a tragic turning point in the lives of …

Northern Syria is experiencing a renewed wave of forced displacement, once again affecting civilians who had previously been uprooted from Afrin and other parts of the country. This latest development reflects a persistent pattern of repeated displacement, marked by ongoing violations and the continued absence of durable, rights-based solutions. In recent weeks, areas of north-eastern Syria, alongside the neighbourhoods of …

The Syrian organizations signing this statement call on the United Nations Security Council and its Member States to assume their responsibilities in protecting civilians and to exert pressure to prioritize dialogue The undersigned Syrian organizations express their deep concern over the escalating military operations in Northeast Syria/the Jazira region. They call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to violations …

Executive Summary In light of the complex challenges faced by forcibly displaced individuals and victims of human rights violations in Syria, Lelun Association for Victims organized a series of participatory dialogue sessions in the cities of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah, in northeastern Syria. The aim was to empower victims by providing them with a safe platform to share their personal stories …

Ensuring that the violations experienced in the area are incorporated into transitional justice programs that guarantee accountability, redress, compensation, and non-recurrence. Despite the major transformations Syria has undergone—including the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, the formation of the Transitional Government, and the return of nearly two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes and communities—tens …

Since armed factions affiliated with the so-called Syrian National Army took control of Afrin in 2018, the area has witnessed widespread violations against civilians, including arbitrary arrests, unlawful property confiscation, and forced displacement. Following the withdrawal of some Turkish forces after the fall of the previous regime and the assumption of administrative control by the “Public Security” apparatus affiliated with …

This in-depth investigation reveals a disturbing reality that goes far beyond isolated violations: a unified and carefully coordinated machinery of repression—resembling a military-style organization—operated by factions of the Syrian National Army across two geographically distant areas that share striking similarities: Afrin, in northern Aleppo, and the Syrian coastal region in Latakia governorate. In both regions, identical patterns of abuse have …