Named in the warrant are Ibrahim Biro, former leader of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), and Fuad Eliko, ENKS’ representative to the Syrian National Coalition.
“The Turkish state did not solely use weapons, it also it tried to mislead the people of Afrin through its use of media to legitimize its occupation. At the same time, it showed a number of Kurdish mercenaries altering the truth,” reads a statement by the People’s Court of Northern Syria published by ANF news.
Turkey announced it had taken full control of the Kurdish canton on March 24. Turkish forces launched the operation on January 20 with the backing of Syrian rebel militias.
The court refers to four allegedly Kurdish militant factions that participated in the Afrin offensive and said such groups are considered complicit in the mass killing of Kurds and destruction of the area.
The court alleged that Fuad Eliko had confirmed that six Kurdish “mercenary factions” of ENKS had participated in the Afrin offensive.
“This shows collaboration between ENKS and the occupying Turkish state, which destroyed Afrin,” the court declared.
PYD, the ruling party of Rojava, had called on ENKS to leave the Syrian opposition umbrella group after the Syrian National Coalition expressed support for the Turkish offensive.
ENKS refused PYD’s demand, saying they want to help Afrin return to its people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates some 137,000 people are currently displaced from Afrin. Local authorities were registering new arrivals this week while small numbers were reportedly returning to Afrin, WHO stated.
The court mentioned an earlier statement by Ibrahim Biro in which he had called for the dissolution of the self-administration authority of Rojava.
These actions “fall in line with treason to the Kurdish nation and its achievements,” the court stated.
“Based on this, a court case against Fuad Eliko and Ibrahim Biro for enmity against the Kurdish nation has been opened,” the court concluded.
The case was filed by a group of citizens of Rojava and families of deceased Kurdish forces.
Many members of ENKS, which opposes the ruling PYD, have been arrested or deported.
Last Monday, Asayesh security arrested ENKS official Faysal Yusuf in Qamishli.
