French Senator Laurence Cohen said that Kurds were targeted for the second time in recent shootings in Paris because the French government have not lifted the “security secret” over the Paris assassinations of three Kurdish women in 2013.
Speaking to Medya Haber, the Senator said the fatal shooting that took place on 23 December at the Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre in Paris could have been prevented had authorities allowed transparency over the 2013 case, that also targeted the Kurdish community.
On 9 January 2013 Sakine Cansız, Leyla Şaylemez and Fidan Doğan were assassinated by a Turkish intelligence-affiliate. The assassin shot dead the three Kurdish women, Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) founding member Cansız and activists Şaylemez and Doğan, in Paris. Their assassinations still remain unsolved and the gunman died in prison in 2016 before his trial began.
“The security secret in the file has serious consequences, so the truth cannot be revealed. It is a great scandal that certain groups are protected. I am one of those who are fighting for the lifting of this security secret. Turkish National Intelligence Service’s (MİT) responsibility must be recognised and those truly responsible must be punished,” said Cohen.
“If the French government had lifted the security secret, perhaps this painful incident would not have happened,” she added. Evin Goyi, Mir Perwer and Abdurrahman Kızıl, all Kurdish, were killed in the recent attack.
Cohen explained that Kurdish women in particular are at the forefront of the Kurdish struggle, and went on to say, “I believe that this is a terror attack. It must be investigated.”
The Senator called for support on the 3 January at a farewell ceremony as the bodies of the victims of the 23 December attack leave Paris for Kurdistan, and to join a march on 7 January in Paris, held to demand protection of the Kurdish people.
