Condemnation of Violence Against Returnees
Rights Monitor Syria has issued a strong condemnation regarding the assaults targeting Kurdish families who returned to the city of Tal Abyad (Krispi) and its surrounding countryside. The incident occurred on Monday, October 26, 2026, marking a significant moment as these families attempted to reclaim their homes and lands after approximately seven years of displacement. According to information gathered by the platform and visual evidence from recorded videos, civilians, including women and children, were subjected to physical beatings and death threats. The violence was accompanied by the destruction of property, the burning of vehicles, and the use of derogatory and racist slurs specifically targeting Kurds and their national identity.
The Incident and Administrative Context
The returnees had traveled to the Tal Abyad district administration building to submit official documents and proofs verifying their ownership of houses and land, a necessary step in the process of restoring their rights. Instead of receiving administrative assistance, they faced immediate aggression. Reports indicate that more than one hundred Kurdish families were trapped inside the district directorate building during the unrest. They were eventually evacuated by the Internal Security Forces in the Afrin/Kobani region later that evening.
Legal Framework and Human Rights Obligations
The organization emphasized that the right to return to one’s homeland, protection of property, equality before the law, personal safety, and human dignity are non-negotiable rights that cannot be diminished based on national or ethnic affiliation. These principles are grounded in international human rights law, particularly Article Two of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights regarding non-discrimination, Article Seven concerning equality before the law, and Article Seventeen protecting the right to property. Furthermore, under international humanitarian law, there is a strict prohibition against attacking civilians or their property, especially when such individuals are not participating in hostilities.
Demands for Accountability and Protection
Rights Monitor Syria holds the authorities exercising effective control responsible for preventing such violations and ensuring the safety of returnees. The platform rejected any claims that alleged affiliations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could justify targeting civilians or denying them civil and property rights. Such accusations do not serve as a pretext for discrimination, threats, or obstructing the right to return.
The organization has called for several urgent measures: the opening of an independent, transparent, and honest investigation into the events of October 26, 2026, to identify perpetrators and inciters; accountability for all officials involved regardless of their position; immediate protection for vulnerable groups among the returnees; and the guarantee of safe, voluntary, and dignified returns without national or political discrimination. Additionally, they demanded the protection of private property, expedited review of ownership documents, access to effective legal remedies, and serious actions against hate speech and racial incitement against Kurds and other Syrian components.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
