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'Annexation': Kobani Residents Slam Turkey’s Wall on Syrian Border

© REUTERS / Kadir CelikcanCivil and military authorities inspect the construction of a border wall between Turkey and Syria near the Mursitpinar border gate in Suruc, bordering with the northern Syrian town of Kobani, in southeastern Sanliurfa province, Turkey, August 29, 2016
Civil and military authorities inspect the construction of a border wall between Turkey and Syria near the Mursitpinar border gate in Suruc, bordering with the northern Syrian town of Kobani, in southeastern Sanliurfa province, Turkey, August 29, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Thousands of residents of Kobani canton in northern Syria are protesting against Turkey’s construction of a wall along their joint border. In an interview with Sputnik Kobani canton’s deputy head Enver Müslim condemned the construction as an attempt by Turkey to annex Syrian territory.

“If the Turks were building this wall on their side of the border, it wouldn’t concern us, but they are trying to build it here in Kobani. Our people will never let this happen. Turkey is against the federative system we have here, that’s why it is helping the Free Syrian Army and other radical groups,” Enver Müslim said.

He added that Ankara decided to build the wall in Kobani after  the failure of its military operation in Jarablus.

“This will never happen because the people of Kobani will not allow this annexation of our territory. Instead of ramping up tensions and stoking up hatred in the region Turkey should look for ways to end this crisis and restore  peace,” Enver Müslim said, adding that Turkey’s actions were antagonizing the local population.

“The people of Kobani and [Kurdish-populated] Rojava, the Kurdish YPG units defended the local residents against terrorists. Turkey and the whole of the Middle East should be proud of the Kobani people’s achievements in fighting the jihadists,” Enver Müslim emphasized.

An area that was destroyed during the battle between the U.S. backed Kurdish forces and the Islamic State fighters, in Kobani. file photo - Sputnik International
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He urged Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development party to stop the construction of the wall in Kobani and, if necessary, to build it on the Turkish side of the border. He also called on the Turkish democratic forces to force Ankara to “stop all construction work on our territory.”

At the end of August, the Turkish authorities started building a new segment of a barrier wall along its southern border with Kobani canton in northern Syria.

The local residents protesting against the construction of the  barrier, have been living in tents on the border territory for more than two weeks now in order to block the construction work.

The standoff has sparked numerous clashes with Turkish police. Two Kobani residents died and 90 were injured during one such clash last week.

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