The Syrian Feminist Lobby condemns, in the strongest terms, the violations committed against the civilian population in the city of Aleppo, in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, as well as in other areas affected by the military operations, and the accompanying use of force in a manner that contravenes the rules of international humanitarian law.
These violations included the forcible displacement of civilians from the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh as a result of direct military targeting, constituting a clear breach of the prohibition of forced displacement stipulated in international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The military operations resulted in the killing of civilians and injuries in various areas.
The Syrian Feminist Lobby also condemns the mutilation of corpses documented by the fighters themselves, as well as acts of humiliation and degrading treatment of detainees, which are absolutely prohibited under international humanitarian law. It further condemns the targeting of journalists while carrying out their work, in clear violation of the special protection afforded to them in armed conflicts.
It also condemns the targeting of civilian, residential, and medical facilities, regardless of the justifications or the nature of such targeting, as this constitutes a blatant violation of the prohibition of attacks directed against civilian objects, medical facilities, and persons entitled to special protection.
Under international humanitarian law, all armed parties bear responsibility for protecting civilians and ensuring respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality, and the precautionary measures required during hostilities. We stand in solidarity with all civilian victims, without exception.
The acts mentioned above constitute war crimes that require legal accountability and must not go unpunished. Accordingly, these violations constitute a breach of Article 51(4) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, concerning the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks, and a breach of Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the Rome Statute regarding intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects.
The targeting of medical facilities also constitutes a violation of Article 8(2)(b)(ix) of the Rome Statute, while the targeting of journalists constitutes a violation of Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1977.
In this context, the Syrian Feminist Lobby commends the initiatives of local communities aimed at providing relief to those forcibly displaced from their areas and affirms the pivotal role played by civil society in humanitarian response and in safeguarding social peace at this critical stage.
The Syrian Feminist Lobby further affirms that any targeting on an ethnic or sectarian basis constitutes a condemnable crime and a grave violation of the principle of non-discrimination, and leads to the deepening of division and fractures within the Syrian social fabric. In this context, it is impossible to overlook the long historical pattern of exclusion and violations against Syrian Kurds, whether under the former regime or by various parties thereafter. Building a state based on equal citizenship requires the participation of Kurds and all Syrian components, without exception.
The Syrian Feminist Lobby believes that the deterioration of the security and military situation in Syria is a direct result of the failure to launch a comprehensive national dialogue leading to a social contract and a constitutional declaration guaranteeing rights and freedoms for all citizens, as well as the failure to form a pluralistic, inclusive government, and the absence of effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration processes, particularly in the aftermath of the massacres on the coast and in Suwayda, which revealed the prevalence of subnational loyalties within the ranks of regular fighters.
The Syrian Feminist Lobby affirms that military solutions only deepen the Syrian crisis, especially amid the escalating rhetoric of hatred and incitement in the media and on social media platforms. Saving Syria requires an immediate end to this discourse, the launch of a serious transitional justice process, accountability for those responsible for crimes and violations, and the achievement of a comprehensive political solution that establishes a genuine national dialogue leading to a permanent constitution based on pluralism, democracy, and the rule of law.
Mercy to the victims, recovery for the wounded, a safe and dignified return for the displaced, and legal accountability for the perpetrators.
