We strongly condemn the desecration of the grave of martyred commander Shervan at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, as well as the earlier destruction of martyrs’ shrines in Afrin. Such acts violate the sanctity of the martyrs and the religious, moral, and national values we all share,l. They target the collective memory of our people and the symbols of their sacrifice. We call for the establishment of a specialized joint committee to restore and maintain these cemeteries and shrines, ensure their lasting protection against any attack, whether systematic or isolated, and hold those responsible accountable. We also stress the need for constitutional recognition of these heroes as martyrs of the entire Syrian people. They fought terrorism for the sake of Syria and the world. The dignity of our martyrs is a red line, and protecting their resting places is a national and moral duty.

The attack in Hasakah yesterday on a billboard depicting a braid went far beyond the billboard itself: it struck at the dignity, the values and the very existence of women and of our people. It was no random act, but the expression of an aggressive mindset bent on undermining the stability of this province. Racist slogans were chanted and ISIS signs were raised during yesterday’s events. This shows that those who seek to target the stability of the people of this province stand not only against our people’s values, but against the law itself. We call on the authorities to take a clear stand and to hold those responsible to account.