The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and the Consultative Meeting Parties have called for an investigation into the attacks targeting civilians, including women and children, and the burning of vehicles belonging to families returning to Tal Abyad/Girê Spî. They emphasized the necessity of ensuring a safe return and protecting property.
A series of political condemnations followed the attacks targeting displaced Kurdish families who returned to the city of Tal Abyad/Girê Spî and its countryside on October 26, 2026. Civilians, including women and children, were subjected to beatings, death threats, and the burning of their cars, amid calls for opening an investigation, holding those involved accountable, and guaranteeing the displaced people’s right to a safe return to their homes and lands.
Dozens of displaced Kurds had arrived at the area administration building in Girê Spî/Tal Abyad to submit official documents establishing their ownership of homes and lands, in preparation for recovering them and returning to their areas of origin, before being attacked. On Monday evening, Internal Security Forces in the Kobani region evacuated more than 100 Kurdish families who were trapped inside the district directorate building following the attacks they faced upon their return.
In a statement, the Committee of Displaced Persons from Girê Spî condemned the attacks targeting the returning civilians, affirming its rejection of any violation of their safety and their legitimate rights to return to their homes and lands. The committee explained that it is following up and coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the return of the displaced; however, these efforts have not yielded tangible results so far. It noted that the residents’ return came at the request of the director of the Girê Spî district, which necessitates assuming responsibility and ensuring civilian protection.
Syrian Democratic Council (SDC)
For its part, the Syrian Democratic Council condemned, in a statement dated October 26, 2026, the attacks targeting forcibly displaced Kurdish families immediately upon their return to their homes in Girê Spî. It noted that they were subjected to death threats, assaults, property destruction, and the burning of cars, coinciding with the chanting of racist slogans targeting Kurds and their national identity.
The Council described what occurred as a violation of civilians’ rights, dignity, and their right to a safe return, warning of its repercussions on social peace and co-existence, and considering it a breach of the January 29 agreement.
The Council held the Syrian Transitional Government responsible for protecting civilians and their property and preventing the recurrence of such attacks. It demanded an independent, impartial, and public investigation, holding perpetrators and instigators accountable, and confronting hate speech and racist incitement.
It also called for restraint and avoiding escalation amid the atmosphere of anger and tension in Hasakah, stressing that calm does not mean covering up responsibilities or detracting from the rights of those affected, and that addressing the aftermath of the incident requires justice for the victims and holding those responsible accountable.
The Council affirmed that the return of forcibly displaced persons to their homes is an inherent right and not a favor from any party, stressing the need to provide actual guarantees for personal safety and security, protect property, ensure a safe, dignified, and voluntary return, and compensate those affected for losses and damages.
Kurdish National Council (ENKS)
In turn, the Kurdish National Council in Syria condemned the physical assaults and death threats targeting Kurdish families returning to Girê Spî/Tal Abyad and its countryside on Monday, October 26. It noted that the families affirmed their return was coordinated with the Hasakah/Raqqa Governorate, the district administration, and security forces, and that they had prepared the necessary documents to prove their ownership of homes and lands in response to the district administration’s request.
The Council explained that these attacks, along with the violations targeting Kurdish families returning to Sere Kaniye/Ras al-Ayn last August, threaten efforts to secure a voluntary, safe, and dignified return for the displaced and undermine opportunities to enhance social peace and stability.
It demanded that the Syrian Government and the Governor of Raqqa form an investigation committee to uncover the circumstances of the incident, hold those responsible accountable according to the law, and take the necessary measures to protect returning families and their property.
Furthermore, it denounced the use of accusations claiming Kurdish families belong to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) as a pretext to target them or obstruct their return and recovery of property. It stressed the need to separate civilian rights from political conflicts and to safeguard property and civil rights away from national affiliation and political accusations.
The Council called on the people to exercise restraint and avoid reactions that could lead to an escalation of the situation, highlighting the responsibility of the government and concerned authorities to prevent violations and safeguard citizens’ rights.
Democratic Union Party (PYD)
In the same context, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) condemned the repeated attacks and violations against Kurdish families returning to Girê Spî/Tal Abyad after years of forced displacement. It considered that their continuation threatens the security of the returnees and their rights, undermines safe return efforts, and violates fundamental terms of the January 29 agreement regarding the safe and dignified return of refugees.
The party affirmed that “Girê Spî/Tal Abyad is not a land without owners,” stressing that the original inhabitants should not be victims of violations or be deprived of their rights to their land, property, and identity.
It called on Mr. Mazloum Abdi, the Governor of Raqqa, and all officials in the Syrian Government to assume their legal and national responsibilities and take necessary measures to stop violations and hold those responsible accountable, in addition to communicating with relevant authorities to protect Kurdish families and guarantee their security and rights.
It also demanded the formation of a special committee dedicated to the return of Tal Abyad refugees to work on ensuring a safe and dignified return, protecting returnees, and addressing the impacts of displacement and violations suffered during their years of displacement, reiterating its solidarity with the people of Girê Spî/Tal Abyad and adherence to their right to return.
Consultative Meeting Parties
For their part, the Consultative Meeting Parties expressed concern over the attacks targeting displaced Kurds returning to Girê Spî/Tal Abyad, north of Raqqa, along with the accompanying burning of their cars and the use of offensive and derogatory language against them, reaching the point of describing them as “pigs.”
The parties condemned these practices, considering that targeting citizens based on their national affiliation and insulting their dignity contradict the principles of equal citizenship and human rights, posing a threat to social peace and mutual co-existence among components of Syrian society.
They demanded that relevant authorities assume their responsibilities in protecting civilians and their property, investigating the circumstances of what happened, holding those involved accountable according to the law, and taking necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such practices.
The parties emphasized that ensuring a safe, voluntary, and dignified return for displaced persons to their original places of residence and safeguarding their rights and property is the responsibility of governmental authorities. Their suffering or attempts to recover their homes must not be turned into an occasion to target them or detract from their dignity.
The Consultative Meeting Parties include: the Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria (Yekîtî), the Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (Al-Parti), the Kurdish Democratic Left Party in Syria, the Kurdistan Azadi Movement in Syria, the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Accord Party, the Kurdistan Democratic Peace Party, the Kurdish Left Party in Syria, and the Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party in Syria.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
