Press Release – Statement about the Recent Events at Tishreen Dam Tishreen Dam: A Symbol of Resistance, Peace, and the Struggle for Freedom

Statement of the Andrea Wolf Institute of Jineolojî Academy
January 23, 2025 – North-East Syria

Since January 8, 2025, people of all different cultural and religious communities from across the regions of Kobanê, Tebqa, Reqqa, Heseke, Qamishlo, Amude, Tirbespiye, Derik, and Derazor have joined to peaceful convoys to the Tishreen Dam. Thousands of people, including members of the Andrea Wolf Institute of the Jineoloji Academy, have joined this peaceful mobilization to express their firm stance against the ongoing attacks by the Turkish army and its allied Syrian National Army (SNA) mercenaries. The continuing vigil at Tishreen Dam stands as a peaceful advocacy for the protection of life, livelihoods, and the democratic autonomy of the people in North and East Syria, urging the international community to act in defence of human rights, and environmental protection.

The Tishreen Dam is a vital lifeline, providing water and electricity to hundreds of thousands of people in northern Syria. The ongoing airstrikes by Turkish army forces, involving drones and warplanes, have severely disrupted these essential services, with particularly dire consequences for communities in the whole region including Aleppo. UNICEF reports that the damage to critical water infrastructure has left countless families without access to clean water, exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation. The continuing bombardments have already caused severe damage, leading to concerns of a subsequent dam break. This would lead to a catastrophic flood disaster with far reaching consequences of human life and the environment, all across regions of Syria and Iraq.

Despite the continuing bombardments of the dam and surrounding areas, women, men, children, the elderly, and young people, have sustained their peaceful vigil for life. They are taking shifts of three to four days at the dam, demonstrating a profound commitment to defending their land, their resources, and the system of Democratic Autonomy that has empowered them to build a society based on women’s freedom, equality, democratic and ecological values.

The message of the participants points out that “Defending Tishreen means to defend Kobanê and the Democratic Autonomy in whole North and East Syria as well as a democratic and peaceful future of Syria!” Solidarity actions and mass mobilisations to protect Tishreen are therefore taking place across the region, including demonstrations along the border in Northern Kurdistan / Turkey as well as in Europe and other parts of the world.

The role of women in this resistance is particularly pivotal. Women in North and East Syria have been at the forefront of the fight for autonomy and equality, resisting patriarchal and colonial oppression alike. Women’s presence at Tishreen Dam reflects their important role in the struggle for peace and human rights. Women are not just defenders of their homes and families—they have collectively reshaped the political and social landscape of the region. Their leadership in these manifestations is a testament to their unyielding determination to preserve the democratic principles such as the co-chair principle and equal participation of women in all fields of life, institutions and decision making. By consciously taking part in and developing politics, education, economy, justice, self-defence, science, arts and culture women have allowed communities to flourish in the face of immense adversity. By standing together, women have been showing the world the power of collective resistance and the necessity of their role in securing a just future.

Repeatedly, the vigil at Tishreen Dam has been attacked by Turkish drones and warplanes. Obtained drone footage also provides evidence that civilians gathering on the dam have been deliberately targeted, underscoring the dire need for international attention and action. Yesterday, for the eleventh time, the crowd was directly bombed, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 persons and the injury of over 120 others, including two international human rights defenders, doctors, and nine journalists. More than three times ambulances of the Kurdish Red Crescent, carrying injured civilians from the dam to hospitals, were targeted by done missiles. This means many of those wounded cannot be evacuated, and are at risk of succumbing to their injuries. Furthermore many of the drone strikes were double-tap strikes, where the military launches a second attack shortly after the first, intentionally targeting rescuers and medical personnel, which is considered a war crime under international law.

All these examples are war crimes and sever violation of international law and human rights committed by the Turkish government. To prevent further losses of human lives as well as an ecological and humanitarian catastrophe in the region all people and institutions need to act now.

The participants of the Tishreen Dam peace vigil are now calling upon the international community to:

1. End the Turkish occupation in parts of North and East Syria and to cease the ongoing war and aggressions.

2. Investigate all war crimes, including the bombing of civilians, journalists, and the deliberate targeting of medical personnel and ambulances.

3. Prosecute the Turkish government for all violations international law and human rights.

4. Establish a No-Fly Zone over North and East Syria to prevent further aerial attacks by Turkish drones and warplanes, ensuring the protection of civilians and the region’s vital infrastructure.

The steadfast determination of the people at Tishreen Dam reflects their unity, resilience, and commitment to peace and democracy. As they persist in their pursuit of justice, it is imperative that the international community heed their call and stand in solidarity with them. Now is the time for decisive action to support their rights and aspirations for a peaceful and democratic future.

Andrea Wolf Institute of Jineoloji Academy

Regions of Democratic Autonomous Administration North and East Syria, 23. Januar 2025

Contact: [email protected]