JINHA

ŞIRNEX - It has emerged that one week ago, seven refugees (among them a 2-year-old) were killed by Turkish soldiers as they tried to cross the border from the Çilaxa region of Rojava.

A group of refugees from Damascus and Hama, fleeing the Syrian civil war, were trying to cross into Turkey via the Çilaxa region of Rojava one week ago. As they were crossing the border, military armored vehicles stationed in İdil, Turkey raked them with gunfire. Seven were killed, including a woman and a 2-year-old child.

The summary execution only came to light when one of the relatives of those slain came to the temporary forensic medical institute set up at the Habur Border Gate in the town of Silopi in order to retrieve the body of Damascus-born Bayhadin Ali. The relative provided information on the massacre.

It has emerged that three of those killed at the border were buried in Silopi.

"As soon as they crossed over into Turkish soil [the soldiers] opened fire," said the relative. Among the seven were baby Suheyp Atif; the baby's father, Atif; a woman about whom the only information is her husband's name, Yasin; and Bayhadin Ali.

It emerged that three refugees survived the attack. Soldiers took custody of a 2-year-old child among the survivors. Where the child has been taken is still unknown.

(ekip/gc/cm)