The Turkish state, heir to the Ottoman Empire, demonstrates how true the saying "Where the Ottoman horse steps, no grass grows!" really is. Wherever the Ottoman state and today's Turkey have extended their sphere of influence, oppression, ignorance, backwardness, and destruction have prevailed; life has lost its vitality and diversity.
Recent news confirms this bitter reality once again. In January 2025, Turkish armed forces uprooted and plundered approximately 200 olive trees in the Kurdish city of Afrin. Among those targeted were Hesen Hemo, who had cultivated 100 olive trees through years of labor, as well as Esed Mehmûd and Fewzî Ebdo, each of whom owned 100 trees. The forces also seized livestock and partially slaughtered them.
Over the seven years since 2018, Turkey-affiliated forces have systematically uprooted the vast majority of Afrin's forests and olive groves. Similar patterns are occurring within the borders of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. Turkey's standard approach is to first destroy the natural vegetation by uprooting trees, then commercialize the timber.
Currently in Afrin, Kurdish homes are being confiscated, household belongings are being stolen, poultry is being seized, children are being kidnapped for ransom, and grain stores are being burned and demolished.
These disasters, particularly the recent developments in Afrin, once again confirm the reality of the historical saying. Afrin's olive trees have become the silent screams of this plunder and destruction.