The Observatory stresses that child protection and civil peace are a priority, calling for an end to provocative practices and incitement, as well as strict weapons control limited to official authorities.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented the participation of children under the age of 18 at the forefront of movements seen in the Guweiran neighborhood of Hasakah city. This coincided with the blockage of the road at Al-Basel Roundabout, amid security alertness and an atmosphere of tension and anticipation in the region.
Video footage and photographs monitored by SOHR showed a notable presence of children at the front of the gathering, where several carried flags and banners, alongside a limited number of adults. Photographs were also captured of the children during their participation in the movements.
These developments follow calls to demonstrate in front of the Grand Mosque in the Guweiran neighborhood after the Asr (afternoon) prayer, coinciding with the destruction and dumping of Kurdish photos, flags, and symbols, as well as others linked to the Autonomous Administration, on the ground and among refuse.
SOHR warned of the danger of involving children in atmospheres of tension, polarization, and political, ethnic, sectarian, and religious disputes. It emphasized that children are neither tools for mobilization nor a facade for conveying political messages, and that childhood must remain isolated from the conflict of banners and symbols, as well as any movements that could put their safety at risk.
SOHR stressed that protecting children is a moral and legal responsibility resting upon everyone, calling on families, political and community leaders, and gathering organizers not to involve children in atmospheres of incitement and polarization, or to place them at the forefront of movements taking place in a tense security environment.
It also affirmed that destroying or insulting symbols associated with any component or party—especially amid charged atmospheres—would increase tensions and harm civil peace, calling for an immediate end to provocative practices, incitement, and hate speech.
Video clips show armed Arab youths declaring their readiness to confront youths from the Kurdish “Revolutionary Youth”
In a related context, SOHR underscored the necessity of controlling weapons and confining them exclusively to official authorities, addressing any violations in accordance with the law, and applying legal procedures to everyone without exception or discrimination, regardless of political, ethnic, sectarian, or religious affiliations.
These developments come amid ongoing tension in the city of Hasakah, where SOHR previously monitored three video clips of armed youths in the neighborhoods of Guweiran, Al-Aziziyah, and Hawsh Al-Ba’ir (known as “Al-Zuhour neighborhood”). In these clips, they declared their readiness to confront youths from the Kurdish “Revolutionary Youth” if they entered their neighborhoods, raising fears that tensions could escalate into armed clashes inside residential areas.
This was accompanied by an intensive security deployment across several city neighborhoods and an escalation of mobilization and incitement speech on social media platforms. Additionally, images circulated showing flags and materials bearing slogans linked to the “Revolutionary Youth” thrown among garbage and on a street, without sufficient data available to identify the party responsible for placing them in those locations or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
SOHR reiterated that the security of civilians, child protection, and civil peace in Hasakah must remain above all disputes, warning against turning childhood into a tool in adult conflicts or a front for political, ethnic, sectarian, and religious polarization.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
