The Executive Council of the Kurdish National Congress (KNK), a Brussels-based umbrella group of Kurdish organisations, called for international solidarity and swift action in response to ongoing Turkish attacks on the Kurdish-led autonomous region of North and East Syria, also known as Rojava.
The statement drew attention to the Turkish state’s relentless assault on the Syrian Kurdish lands, condemning it as a blatant violation of human rights and international law. According to the KNK, the Turkish attacks primarily target essential infrastructure, including reservoirs, power plants, grain warehouses, factories and hospitals, marking them as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Executive Council pointed out that the current attacks are not isolated incidents, but are reminiscent of the past.
Nine years ago, a significant assault on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani (Kobanê) by the Islamic State (ISIS) was supported by Turkey, according to the KNK, and led to a massive wave of solidarity and support for the city from Kurds and their supporters worldwide. Added to this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s inflammatory remarks at the time reignited the spirit of resistance in the region, culminating in the “6-8 October uprising”, also known as the Kobani protests in Turkey. The city of Kobani ultimately thwarted ISIS’ attempts to take control of it.
“Today, the Turkish forces, under the command of Erdoğan, have again targeted Kobanê, and the Kurdish forces, including the People’s Protection Units (YPG/YPJ) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), alongside the Autonomous Administration and the people of Rojava, are putting up a fierce defence against the invaders”, the statement read.
The KNK stressed an urgent need for international support, asserting that the protection of the autonomous administration in Syria is synonymous with safeguarding all the Kurdish lands.
They called on Kurdish communities and their supporters worldwide to join activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of what is known among the Kurdish community as the international conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan, which forced the PKK founder to leave Syria on 9 October 1998, ultimately leading to his arrest in February 1999. They also highlighted the need for united action in countering the ongoing aggression against northern Syria.