The international press has been keenly following the events unfolding at the Lausanne Conference and the related march, both of which were initiated by a collective of Kurdish institutions.
These activities were designed as a form of resistance and a challenge to the prevailing order in the Middle East, an order shaped by the Treaty of Lausanne a hundred years ago.
The treaty, which was negotiated without the input of Kurdish representatives, carved Kurdistan into four separate parts, effectively denying the Kurds their own state.
This set the stage for what historian Ayşe Hür refers to as a “protracted genocide” against the Kurds, a series of genocidal attacks that have been occurring over the past century.
Swiss outlets RTS and Le Matin reported on the thousands of Kurds who marched in Lausanne to mark the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne. RTS highlighted the peaceful nature of the march, with one article stating, “Thousands of Kurds marched in the Vaud capital on the occasion of the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne.” Le Matin focused on the large turnout and the significance of the event for the Kurdish community, noting, “Thousands of Kurds are expected on the occasion of the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne.”
Two Swiss publications, Tribune de Genève and 24 Heures, echoed the sentiments of conference participants in their headlines, referring to the Treaty of Lausanne as a “treaty of shame,” while underscoring the Kurdish community’s demand for recognition and autonomy.
French outlet Nouvel Obs reported on the Kurdish march, emphasising the significance of the event in marking the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne.
Swiss German outlets SRF and Blick highlighted the thousands of Kurds who demonstrated in Lausanne, with Blick emphasising the burial of the dream of autonomy for the Kurds.
Swiss outlets Südostschweiz, Nau, Watson, and Züritoday all reported on the large turnout of Kurds in Lausanne, with Watson emphasising the unity and strength of the Kurdish people.
Arab News, a Saudi Arabian English-language daily newspaper, also covered the event, providing a more global perspective. The article, titled “Kurds demonstrate on Lausanne treaty centenary,” reported that around 6,000 Kurds rallied to demonstrate against the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne. The article quoted Berivan Firat, a spokeswoman for the Kurdish Democratic Council of France, saying, “The Kurdish people, like all the peoples of the world, claim a right to be able to live with their identity on their own lands. This treaty opened the door to all sorts of bullying, all sorts of massacres toward the Kurdish people.” The article also highlighted the demand for an apology from Lausanne for dividing Kurdistan into four parts.
