Tomorrow, 11 January 2025, thousands of Kurds and their allies will converge in Paris to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the assassination of three Kurdish women activists—Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, and Leyla Şaylemez. Ahead of the mass demonstration, three leading Paris councillors—all women—issued a strongly worded statement condemning the impunity surrounding these political crimes and calling on France to fulfil its obligations to justice and human rights. Symbolically reflecting the numbers and gender of the murdered activists, the councillors highlighted the urgency of accountability and solidarity.
The 2013 Assassinations: A Political Crime in Paris
On 9 January 2013, Sakine Cansız, a co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK); Fidan Doğan, a Kurdish diplomat; and Leyla Şaylemez, a young activist, were assassinated in their office in Paris. The killings occurred during peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK, and evidence strongly suggests involvement by Turkey’s intelligence agency (MIT). However, the French government has blocked the investigation under the pretext of “state defence,” leaving the case unresolved.
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The pattern of violence continued in December 2022, with the murders of Kurdish activists Evin Goyi, Mir Perwer, and Abdurrahman Kizil. Activists argue these killings are part of a broader system of impunity and repression targeting the Kurdish community across Europe.
A Call for Justice and Accountability
“Six lives taken in the heart of our capital—six political assassinations left unpunished. This is a stain on France’s conscience,” declared Raphaëlle Primet, co-president of the Communist and Citizen group in Paris. She called on the government to lift secrecy restrictions surrounding the investigation, stating: “The truth must come out, and those responsible, including their masterminds, must be brought to justice.”
Geneviève Garrigos, representing Paris en Commun, criticised the administrative harassment Kurds face in France, including recent expulsions to Turkey. “This is not just a failure to protect; it is a betrayal of France’s values,” she said. Garrigos highlighted the dangers faced by those sent back to an authoritarian regime, where arbitrary detention, torture, and unfair trials await.
“France has a duty to protect Kurdish activists, expose the truth, and ensure their safety,” added Garrigos. She also condemned attacks by Turkish-backed groups such as the Grey Wolves, who have targeted peaceful Kurdish demonstrators, including vigils in Strasbourg for Abdullah Öcalan.
Turkey’s War Crimes Against Kurdish Activism
Aminata Niakaté, spokesperson for Ecologists-EELV, pointed to Turkey’s ongoing campaign against Kurdish autonomy, especially in Rojava. “While Syria begins a new chapter with the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Erdoğan continues to bomb Kurdish regions in an attempt to dismantle their democratic and egalitarian model,” she stated.
Niakaté stressed the critical role Kurds have played in combating ISIS and maintaining stability in the region. “Despite their contributions, Kurds are bombarded and neglected internationally. France must acknowledge their right to sovereignty and peaceful existence,” she added.
Demands for the Future
The councillors emphasised that justice for the Kurdish activists killed in Paris is only the beginning. Their demands include:
–An independent investigation into the 2013 and 2022 killings, holding both perpetrators and masterminds accountable.
–Stronger protections for Kurdish activists and associations in France.
–An end to France’s administrative repression of Kurds.
–The release of Abdullah Öcalan and all Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey.
“This is a fight for justice, peace, and dignity—not just for the Kurdish people but for the values we hold as a nation,” said Primet. “We must stand together to end impunity and ensure accountability.”
The protest in Paris is expected to serve as a powerful reminder of these unresolved crimes, as the Kurdish community and its supporters continue to demand justice, both in Europe and beyond.
