Twenty-nine-year-old mother Majida Shawwaleh, whose husband was among those killed in the massacre, spoke to Yeni Şafak about the vicious attack by the Shabbiha militias
Syrian regime-affiliated “Shabbiha” paramilitaries, with the tacit approval and abetting of terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), have committed a horrific massacre in the Aleppo countryside town of Gileya, killing 208 of the town’s 600 residents.
Twenty-nine-year-old mother Majida Shawwaleh, whose husband was among those killed in the massacre, spoke to Yeni Şafak about the vicious attack by the Shabbiha militias.
“One day at noon, a 15 to 20-vehicle convoy came to our town. Some of their cars had unfurled PKK flags, while others had regime flags. Those who came were not regular troops and as they entered the town, they inspected every area. The population of our town was over 600,” said Shawwaleh.
“They toured the town and forced some of the residents to get in the back of their trucks. They yelled at us saying ‘You’re all traitors and you’re going to pay for this treason.’ We were very scared. Fear and dread reigned in the town. The overwhelming majority in our town is Arab. That’s why we could tell that those who came were from different areas through what we heard of their speech and accents.”
“As they came for some families in the town, a number of them tried to escape through the fields, which prompted these gangs to shoot at them. Those who survived were taken to the town square. My husband hid my children and I inside the hay silos and left,” continued Shawwaleh.
“There were recurring sounds of weapons being fired and we were very frightened. Screams and firing sounds continued until sunset. Relatives of my husband then came in the evening and smuggled us to Manbij from where we were hiding. My husband was among the 208 who were killed there. Some of those killed were burned to death. Some of them were not killed with weapons, and we later realized that they were choked to death.”
“Almost 45 days went by after these events and the Assad regime gave guarantees to relatives of those killed, vowing that the perpetrators will be held accountable. The 28 people who escaped with us that night returned to the town to bury their dead and seek justice. There were bodies piled up all across the town and because no one could get in for 45 days, the stench filled the air.”
“The most frightening crime committed was the killing of 17 people by drowning them in a nearby salty water depository. There’s the Jubbul Lake in a nearby place. There were 17 people floating on top with traces of torture on their bodies. They were drowned there. Regime troops and Shabbiha warned those who returned to the town of severe retribution if they ever spoke of the incident,” continued the mother of four.
“I was pregnant at the time and because of what I went through my daughter was born ill. There are many health problems. She underwent four different operations in Turkey, and still these complications persist.”
After the town was stormed and her husband’s death, the young mother sought refuge in the city of Jarabulus, where she was given a tent by the Red Crescent. She previously worked in the fields for a daily wage during the summer, however, after losing her husband and having to care for her ailing children, one of whom is unable to walk, Majidah struggled to provide.
PKK terrorists and Shabbiha forces looted everything they laid eyes on in the town of Gileya, according to the bereaved mother.
“They pillaged all homes, and torched others. They stole objects such as TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and even cars. They even looted grain silos and the town’s bread bakery. They also destroyed the town’s electricity generator.”
