Kurdish people in Europe came together with friends and supporters to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the foundation of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Wednesday.
The foundation of the PKK on 27 November 1978 was a step against the Turkish state’s policy of assimilation and massacre of the Kurdish people, which brought the existence of Kurdish culture to the brink of extinction. Today, millions of people all over the world praise the Kurdish struggle and the women’s vanguard, show solidarity with the Kurdish people and come together under the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (“Woman, Life, Freedom”).
In France, the “Festival des Solidarites” in Nantes organised four days dedicated to the Kurdish struggle. The festival included a photo exhibition of the revolution in North and East Syria (Rojava), known as “the woman’s revolution”. In this context, a member of the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F) gave a speech, saying, “The philosophy of women’s liberation of Abdullah Öcalan – the creator of the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” – has become a fundamental of women’s struggle worldwide.”
In the city of Mantes-La-Jolie, France, there was an evening celebration with a large turnout of people.
A torchlight procession took place in Vienna, Austria, to mark the anniversary. “The 46-year history of the PKK has become a beacon of hope for the entire Kurdish people. The PKK, which started with a small number, has now become a movement that is supported by millions of people,” Kurdish activist Nurcan Guleryuz said. During the march, people shouted “Biji PKK” (Long live PKK).
In Italy, the anniversary was also celebrated in the city of Turin. The participants watched a documentary about the 46-year struggle of the PKK and its meaning for the Kurdish people. Dersim Andok, who was injured in the war against ISIS in northeastern Syria, noted that the Kurdish people have revolted 29 times in history, but the struggle led by the PKK is the longest and most enduring.
In Greece, in the capital Athens, Kurdish people and friends gathered on one of the city’s hills and celebrated together. Kurdish artists Simar and Ibo Qamishlo animated the event and people celebrated with traditional Kurdish dances (govend).
In the Swiss city of Geneva, Kurdish people have been meeting every Wednesday in front of the United Nations (UN) building to demand the freedom of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. On Wednesday, the weekly meeting focused on the freedom struggle led by Öcalan. “In the 70s, Öcalan understood the need to stand up against the assimilation and massacres of the Kurdish people. The foundation of the PKK in 1978 was his answer to this,” said a speaker from the Geneva Democratic Kurdish Community Centre.
In Germany, in the city of Frankfurt, Kurdish and German youth celebrated the 46th anniversary of the PKK foundation by watching a documentary together and dancing traditional Kurdish dances.
