War Resisters’ International Executive Committee Statement: No to War in Rojava

Escalations and genocides across the world continue to scar communities and destabilize entire regions. Waves of war and repression remind us of the urgent need for international solidarity. War Resisters‘ International is gravely concerned about the developments in Syria, especially about the attacks on the autonomous territories in the north-east. The developments in north-eastern Syria are not merely a regional conflict, but also a grave humanitarian crisis that concerns the collective conscience of humanity. The Kurdish people are being subjected to forced displacement, torture, executions and discriminatory violence, which are explicitly prohibited under international law. We demand global soldiarity and action with regards to protecting the Kurdish people in the region.

The attacks taking place in Rojava over the last couple of days and today are testing not only a people's struggle for existence, but also the international community's commitment to peace and justice. The operations carried out by the Syrian government and its affiliated forces violate the principle of protecting civilians and constitute war crimes as defined by international law. Therefore, all states and international institutions must take action to immediately halt the war and engage in urgent diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful solution, rather than remaining silent. The protection of civilians must be guaranteed, and the guns must be silenced.

The security of the Kurdish people and all people in Syria can be ensured through international solidarity, the rule of law, and a common will against war. Our call is to stand against war and fight together for peace. The solution lies not in the shadow of weapons, but in building a peace that protects human dignity.

What needs to be done today is not to open new fronts, deepen the conflict and lead to new regional wars; it is to prevent the war from spreading, strengthen channels of dialogue and remind all states in the region that peace is the only way forward. The international community must learn from the tragedy that unfolded in Kobane in 2014 and must not allow a similar catastrophe to happen again (when ISIS besieged the city, captured hundreds of surrounding villages, and forced mass displacement, with over half the city ultimately destroyed before Kurdish forces repelled the assault).

Establishing peace is imperative not only for the Kurdish people but for all peoples of the region. We, as the Executive Committee of International War Resisters, publish this statement as a call: All attacks in Syria must cease immediately, the continuation of the war must not be permitted, the safety of civilians must be ensured, international law must be upheld, and a common will for a peaceful solution must be demonstrated. Solidarity, justice and peace are today more than ever the shared responsibility of humanity.