International Peace Initiative for Syria publishes a report dismissing abuses against the Arab population in Rojava

International Peace Initiative for Syria is an initiative born on September 2012 by independent members of international organisations wishing to put end to the blood bath in Syria. Since then it has been conducting various actions with the aim of fostering a dialog between the different factions involved in the conflict. Their goal is to build bridges looking for the common points, in spite of the differences, a big challenge in the middle of a war. A future in Syria can only by constructed accepting the difference instead of making from it an obstacle.

The latest report of International Peace Initiative for Syria is conducted in Syrian Kurdistan . Entitled 'Finding Mission in Rojava', the 15 pages text is a study about alleged human rights violations against the Arab population in Rojava, Syria. It was conducted between 21 and 30 September in Turkish and Syrian territory by five journalists from Germany, Austria and the Spanish State , particularly from Catalonia. The summary of the report is absolutely clear: the alleged human rights violations are false. Why?

The team began its work in Sanliurfa and Mardin (Turkey) speaking with complainants. They are members of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Coalition. They show contempt towards the Rojava movement. For example, referring to them as the “PKK” . "We were surprised that our partners did not refer to them as YPG/YPJ or as PYD, which is the leading party in Hasaka province, but as the PKK instead, the Turkish military-political organisation that is still in the list of terrorist organisations (...) it seems quite partial to call an organisation with a name that does the same organisation does not use to refer to itself”. The delegation asked about relations with the PYD and the YPG and proposed a dialogue between the two parties, to which the members of the FSA responded: They cannot be our allies because they are allies of the regime of Bashar al-Assad”.

About the allegations, they were basically three:

1) Killings in Al Hajj (09/13/2014). Investigated on the ground, the report concludes that there are no proves that the 35 people killed were victims of the YPG but, instead, all facts aim to the Islamic State (IS) as the responsible of the killings.

2) Evacuation of Arab populations: The population was not systematically evacuated. An eyewitness to the advancement of YPJ to Tell Abyad explains in detail "the dynamics of the army." Points out that "The atmosphere was relaxed," and described with words like "respect" and "cordial" the treat to the Arabic civilians. The delegation moved to a refugee camp in Dohuk (Kurdistan of Iraq) which reiterated these facts with Arab refugees.

3) Political prisoners in Al-Malikiyah. The complainants were given six names, the delegation visited the prison to verifying that all prisoners have never been there.

Perhaps the most interesting detail of the report is that the complainant, the SNC and FSA (page 12) opposes any dialogue until the administration of Rojava "breaks its alliance with Bashar al-Assad" . Given that this partnership is non-existent is clear what part of the conflict is blocking the dialogue.