The Democratic Union Party’s General Council and the Women’s Protection Units condemn the attacks and demand that those responsible be held accountable, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights calls for clarifying the circumstances of the incident and protecting civil peace.
The vandalization of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) office in the Guwayran neighborhood of Hasakah city, along with the attack on photos of female martyrs and Kurdish symbols, has sparked a wave of condemnations and calls for accountability, amid warnings over the impact of such acts on civil peace and regional stability.
In a public statement issued on October 14, 2026, from Qamishli, the General Council of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) said that the party’s office in the Guwayran neighborhood was subjected to looting and vandalism on the morning of Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Doors were broken, contents were looted, and symbols of the Kurdish people—particularly those representing the women’s revolution—were targeted.
The statement noted that the incident occurred days after an attack on the Martyrs’ Families Institution in the town of Tel Tamer. It described the targeting of Tel Tamer, followed by Hasakah, and the violation of the office as indication of “a systematic plan targeting peaceful coexistence.”
The party’s General Council strongly condemned these attacks, stressing that they represent a threat to civil peace and stability, as well as an assault on the freedom of political activity and grassroots organization. It clarified that the party’s office in Guwayran was not merely a political headquarters, but a hub for organizing the public base and promoting peaceful coexistence and fraternity among the region’s diverse components.
The statement added that targeting party offices and civil institutions during this sensitive phase in Syria—following the recent agreement and the integration process into state institutions—contradicts the requirements of dialogue, partnership, and political pluralism, while threatening efforts aimed at building a democratic, peaceful, and stable Syria.
Furthermore, it stated that these actions reflect an exclusionary and racist mindset reminiscent of Ba’athist practices based on denying the other and opposing pluralism.
The General Council called on the relevant authorities to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting party offices and civil institutions, investigating the attacks, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring such incidents are not repeated. It also urged political and social forces, along with the Syrian people, to reject incitement and hatred, adhere to dialogue and coexistence, and preserve civil peace.
In conclusion, the party affirmed that it will continue to uphold the principles of freedom, democracy, and coexistence among Syria’s various components, emphasizing that acts of vandalism and intimidation will not deter it from continuing its struggle for a democratic and pluralistic Syria built on partnership, equality, and respect for the will of all its citizens.
YPJ Demands Accountability from the Transitional Government
For its part, the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) strongly condemned the attacks targeting the photos of female martyrs and Kurdish symbols in Hasakah. It stressed that such actions infringe upon the dignity and human and national values of society, demanding that the transitional government hold the perpetrators accountable and take urgent measures to prevent recurrences.
This comes after a video circulated on social media, reportedly filmed in Hasakah, showing individuals desecrating photos of female martyrs and Kurdish symbols, triggering widespread indignation.
In a statement published on its official website, the General Command stated that targeting photos of female martyrs constitutes an attack on their dignity, status, and the values for which society fought. It emphasized that the units will not remain silent in the face of these violations, and that they must not pass without accountability.
The General Command urged the transitional government to take responsibility and institute immediate measures to hold perpetrators accountable. It also called on members of society, particularly women and youth, to remain vigilant against psychological warfare and stand united in defense of the martyrs’ dignity and societal values.
Meanwhile, YPJ Spokeswoman Roxel Mohamed described the attacks as criminal and unlawful, whether through tearing up or defiling photos of female martyrs, or insulting their memory and sacrifices.
Roxel Mohamed stated that these acts constitute an assault on collective memory and conscience, violating the human and national values embodied by the martyrs’ sacrifices. She highlighted that these fallen fighters are symbols of struggle, dignity, and freedom who gave their lives in defense of the land, justice, and gender equality.
She added that targeting the symbols of female martyrs is an attack on every woman who has fought for freedom and legitimate rights, stressing that these acts represent a moral and national crime that cannot be justified under any pretext.
Roxel called on the transitional government, represented by the Hasakah Governorate and its Internal Security Forces, to take responsibility, hold those involved accountable, and implement necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
She underscored that holding those responsible accountable will serve as a benchmark for the seriousness of the integration process, as well as the commitment to guaranteeing rights, respecting shared values and principles, and safeguarding women’s dignity and the sacrifices of fallen fighters.
The General Command of the YPJ concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending the dignity, identity, and legacy of female martyrs, while Roxel Mohamed stressed that these attacks will not deter the units from pursuing their struggle for women’s rights, dignity, and freedom.
Hawar: Suspect Arrested for Attacking Photos of Female Martyrs
In a related context, the Kurdish Hawar News Agency, citing its own sources, reported that the individual accused of attacking photos of Kurdish female martyrs in Hasakah’s Guwayran neighborhood on Tuesday has been identified as Nasser Tariq Attiya, a resident of the same neighborhood.
According to preliminary details provided by the agency, the suspect is now in the custody of the Internal Security Forces. However, no official statement has yet been issued by security authorities regarding the incident or its circumstances.
Activists had circulated a video clip on social media showing a group of individuals gathered around photos of Kurdish female martyrs, with one individual seen attacking the pictures—a scene that sparked widespread anger and condemnation.
This was preceded by the vandalization of the Democratic Union Party office in the Guwayran neighborhood, during which its contents were looted, and photos of female martyrs and Kurdish flags were seized, prior to the footage of the attack appearing online.
Syrian Observatory Calls for Investigating the Incident
On its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the PYD office in the Guwayran neighborhood of Hasakah was subjected to vandalism on Tuesday affecting its doors and contents. Doors were broken, contents were looted, and photos of female fighters and Kurdish symbols were defaced and tampered with.
SOHR clarified that the acts of destruction targeted photos and symbols tied to the Kurdish cause and the role of women, representing a violation of symbols carrying national and social significance for a segment of the region’s population.
It noted that the incident comes days after an attack on the Martyrs’ Families Institution in the town of Tel Tamer in the Hasakah countryside, amid escalating tensions and repeated acts targeting Kurdish symbols across several parts of the governorate, raising fears of expanding friction and its fallout on civil peace.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights emphasized the necessity of uncovering the circumstances of the incident, identifying and legally prosecuting those responsible, guaranteeing the protection of civil and party headquarters as well as property, and preventing the targeting of national and cultural symbols or the conversion of political disputes into attacks on property and identity—thereby helping to contain tension and preserve civil peace in Hasakah Governorate.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
