US state Dep. on Rojava

US state Dep. on Rojava.

Dina Badawy, Deputy Spokesperson for Foreign Media - Bureau of Near -Eastern Affairs of the U.S. Department of State has released a statement on the attacks on Kurdish civilians in Rojava. The statement, which was published by Kurdish Voice of America, condemns these attacks.

Here the full statement:
We note reports of continued attacks by extremists on Kurdish civilians in the towns of Tal Aaran and Tal Hasel. This overtly sectarian provocation cannot be justified, and we condemn these attacks on civilians.

From the beginning of this crisis, the United States has urged the Syrian people, and the Syrian opposition, to avoid ethnic and sectarian strife because sectarian reprisals play directly into the regime’s hands and do not move the Syrian people closer to the inclusive, post-Assad future they deserve. The Syrian people have a long history of tolerance and co-existence, and we urge all groups to avoid any actions that would exacerbate tensions and help the regime to further exploit the situation.

Protection of civilians during conflict is of paramount importance; they should not become targets or pawns of parties to the conflict. We call on all parties to protect and respect the rights of all civilians, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion. We have been absolutely clear that those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious human rights abuses must be held accountable.