A mass demonstration in support of the people of North and East Syria is being planned on 11 December in Brussels, organised by the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E). The Kurdish umbrella organisation is calling for people to travel to Brussels from neighbouring Germany and the Netherlands to attend. Meanwhile, demonstrations have been held in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal since 27 November.
The KCDK-E and the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) are both calling for the defence of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) against the attacks, which they say have been orchestrated by Turkey. Protests demanding sanctions against the Turkish state and emergency aid for the refugees have been held across Europe in the past few days.
Meanwhile, more solidarity demonstrations are underway. Yesterday, a large rally was held in the city of St Gallen in Switzerland, as well as in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital.
#İsviçre’nin St. Gallen kentinde #Türk devleti ve çetelerinin Kuzey ve Doğu #Suriye’ye saldırısı protesto edildi. #DefendRojava pic.twitter.com/rdiBc02hi4
— KCDK-E (@_Civak_saz1) December 5, 2024
#Portekiz‘de #işgal saldırıları protesto edildi#Türk devletinin ve bağlı çetelerin, #Rojava ile Kuzey-Doğu #Suriye‘ye dönük saldırıları Portekiz’in #Lizbon kentinde protesto edildi.
#DefendRojava pic.twitter.com/zABNqfPJhT
— KCDK-E (@_Civak_saz1) December 5, 2024
In Spain, the Spanish Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement in solidarity with the people of North and East Syria. “We are defending Rojava, we are defending Kurdistan,” they wrote.
In London, Kurds and their supporters, who are currently fighting against repression and criminalisation, reaffirmed their support for those facing attacks from the Turkish-backed SNA and HTS. Seyit Suruç, co-chair of the Kurdish Community Centre in London (KCC), said: “We will stand by our people who are resisting, especially in Rojava.”
#Londra’da 9 gündür polis işgali altında tutulan KCC önündeki bariyerler kaldırıldı. Eşbaşkan Seyit Suruç, “Bizler arkadaşlarımız serbest bırakılana kadar mücadeleyi sürdüreceğiz. Özellikle #Rojava’da direnen halkımızın yanında olacağız” dedi. #DefendRojava pic.twitter.com/U0AI6qwyRr
— KCDK-E (@_Civak_saz1) December 5, 2024
The Kurdish community in London has recently faced a wave of arrests of activists under the UK Terrorism Act. This repression coincided with mass arrests in Turkey, and dawn raids in Germany. The coordinated police actions are linked to advocacy by the Turkish state in Europe. The timing coincides with the renewed attacks on North and East Syria, and is likely part of the Turkish state’s strategy to limit solidarity with the region.
Meanwhile, Rise Up For Rojava has released a video calling for people around the world to take action against the current attacks. They wrote on social media platform X: “We call on all democratic, revolutionary, and solidarity forces around the world to stand with the Revolution against Turkish-backed attacks on Rojava/North-Eastern Syria.”
#DefendRojava: We call on all democratic, revolutionary, & solidarity forces around the world to stand with the Revolution against Turkish-backed attacks on #Rojava/North-Eastern #Syria#Riseup4Rojava
➡️ Call to action: ENG // FR // SWED // FIN // GER:https://t.co/hvahTWY12q pic.twitter.com/K3woJ2WKhj
— RiseUp4Rojava (@RISEUP4R0JAVA) December 5, 2024
Since the start of the attack, demonstrations have also been held in Munich, Giessen, Cologne, Leipzig and Aachen in Germany, Athens in Greece, Biel and Chur in Switzerland, Liège in Belgium, Strasbourg in France, and Linz and Graz in Austria:
Cologne
Giessen
Linz and Graz
Bologna
Strasbourg
AthensBiel
Biel
Chur
Liège
Stockholm
Aachen
