Federal Parliament Report in Germany: Turkey is Occupying Force in Syria

* Photograph: bianet

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Turkey has been called "an occupying force in Syria" in a report prepared by the Scientific Services Department of the Federal Parliament of Germany.

As reported by Deutsche Welle Türkçe based on Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), the report has stated, "The military presence of Turkey in the northern Syrian region of Afrin as well as around the regions of Asas, al-Bab and Jarablus in northern Syria meets the criteria of being a military occupation when considered in terms of international law."

Sharing information regarding the nine-page report of the department, Group Deputy Chair of the Left Party (Die Linke) Sevim Dağdelen has criticized the federal government of Germany for not deeming the activities and presence of Turkey in Syria as an infringement of international law.

Dağdelen has stated, "It is a scandal that Turkey, an ally of the NATO, entered some parts of Syria and its occupation is still not considered an infringement of the international law despite all expert reports and attitudes of all political parties in the Federal Parliament of Germany."

"There is no concrete evidence"

The Scientific Services Department of the Federal Parliament of Germany previously released another report and indicated that the government of Turkey did not present concrete evidence regarding an armed attack against its territory that would lead to self-defense.

Turkey referred to the right of self-defense cited in the Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter as the legal justification for the Afrin Operation that was launched against the YPG (People's Protection Units) in northern Syria. (PT/SD)

* Sources: Deutsche Welle Türkçe, dpa