The Hatay Educational Directorate sends a message to teachers in the border district of Altınözü, calling for volunteer Turkish teachers to participate in a “new formation” that will be established in Kurdish-controlled Afrin after “it is cleared.” The message is the latest in a long line of plans by Ankara to impose new institutions in […]
The Hatay Educational Directorate sends a message to teachers in the border district of Altınözü, calling for volunteer Turkish teachers to participate in a “new formation” that will be established in Kurdish-controlled Afrin after “it is cleared.” The message is the latest in a long line of plans by Ankara to impose new institutions in lands it occupies in Syria
Educational officials in Hatay, a Turkish province that borders Syria, have issued a directive to area teachers, calling for “volunteers” to participate in a new formation that Ankara will impose on Efrîn (Afrin) if the Turkish army and allied jihadist forces successfully occupy the largely Kurdish canton.
“This is an order from our provincial directorate,” said the message, which was sent late last month from the Hatay Provincial Education Directorate to the Altınözü District Education Directorate. “After Afrin is cleared, there will be a new formation. There is a need for Turkish teachers – particularly ones that know Arabic – that will work in Afrin as volunteers under the auspices of the Turkish education system. All school principals must contact their teachers and respond either positively or negatively to Branch Director Mahmut Sabah by tomorrow evening. Don’t neglect to do this.”
Afrin, one of the few places in Syria to escape war, was attacked by the Turkish army and a collection of jihadist elements on 19 January. Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan forecast a rapid victory, the invaders have so far succeeded in making little progress against the defenders from the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
The order from the Hatay Educational Directorate comes after previous attempts by the Turkish government to impose new institutions and remain as occupiers in other areas of Syria that it has seized as part of the Euphrates Shield Operation.
The Turkish army and allied jihadist groups have already established Turkish educational structures in occupied areas of Jarablus, al-Bab, Marea and al-Rai.
Sendika News / Hatay
