Thousands of Kurds and their allies gathered in Paris on 11 January to honour the legacy of Kurdish women activists Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, who were assassinated in the city in 2013, and the victims of the Paris shooting of 2022, in which a further three prominent Kurds were killed. The march, organised by the European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E) and the Kurdistan Communities Union in Europe (KCDK-E), began at Gare du Nord and culminated in a rally at Place de la République.
TJK-E, a Europe-based organisation advocating for Kurdish women’s empowerment, and KCDK-E, the largest organisational platform coordinating Kurdish diaspora activities in Europe, were instrumental in mobilising thousands from across the continent. The march was an indicator of the demand and resilience of the Kurdish community for justice and resistance against ongoing Turkish aggression in Turkish and Syrian Kurdistan.
Kürdistanlılar ve dostları katliamların hesabını sormak için Paris’te. #Justice4ParisMassacreOfKurds pic.twitter.com/IaS6vPngus
— KCDK-E (@_Civak_saz1) January 11, 2025
Marchers in Paris bear an image of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, highlighting his role as a symbol of Kurdish resistance and peace efforts
The marchers bore a banner of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, calling for his release and highlighting his role as a symbol of Kurdish resistance and efforts for peace, and another of Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), symbolising the Kurdish struggle against ISIS and Turkey’s military operations in Rojava. The demonstration also linked the sacrifices of Kurdish women activists to the broader fight for Kurdish self-determination.
Tens of thousands of Kurds and other supporters demonstrated today in the French capital, Paris, SDF flags were seen raised as well as pictures of the SDF leader, Mazloum Abdi. pic.twitter.com/F6fWuwXdfL
— AMK News (@AmkBreaking) January 11, 2025
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), symbolises resistance against the Turkish assault on Rojava
A number of French politicians and activists delivered messages of solidarity and resilience on the stage. Paris City Councillor Geneviève Garrigos spoke of the strong bond between the French and the Kurdish peoples, saying, “Paris is also a Kurdish city. We stand united in protecting our shared values and honouring the Kurds’ fight against ISIS. Justice for the assassinated activists is not just a Kurdish issue – it’s a universal demand for accountability.”
French Communist Party Senator Laurence Cohen spoke of the sense of injustice surrounding the assassination: “The killers are known, and yet these crimes remain unresolved. This impunity must end. France must hold Turkey accountable for its role in these assassinations and support Kurdish rights without hesitation.”
Jean-Christophe Senat, representing the Left Party, connected the pursuit of justice to a broader political context: “The resolution to these injustices lies in freeing Abdullah Öcalan, delisting the PKK from terror classifications, and acknowledging Kurdish autonomy. Kurdish women lead a democratic and feminist movement that is an inspiration for the Middle East,” he said.
France Insoumise’s Arnaud Regall addressed the international nature of the Kurdish struggle:
“The democratic model in North and East Syria is a beacon of hope for the region. As Turkey escalates its attacks, France must oppose its aggression and ensure that Rojava’s achievements are protected.”
Kurdish activists and personalities also took to the stage. KCDK-E co-chair Zübeyde Zümrüt, spoke on the enduring resistance of Kurdish women:
“Sakine Cansız embodied the free woman’s movement. She and her comrades resisted colonialism, fascism and patriarchy, leaving us a legacy of courage and leadership. The Turkish state targets revolutionary women because of the power they hold. But this legacy lives on in Rojava and across the Kurdish struggle, where women continue to lead against all forms of oppression. We call on France to bring the perpetrators of these assassinations to justice and demand an end to the collaboration that enables such crimes.”
TJK-E spokeswoman Ayten Kaplan spoke on the intersection of political and gender oppression, saying, “For 12 years, we have been reminding France of that dark day, 9 January 2013. No economic or political interest can justify silence over the targeting of Kurdish women who represent hope, equality and freedom. The Turkish state, led by [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, is responsible for these attacks, and we demand accountability. The fight for women’s freedom will not be silenced. We will resist until justice is achieved.”
KCK Executive Council member Zubeyir Aydar delivered a powerful speech highlighting the strategic importance of Rojava and the broader Kurdish struggle: “We have been demanding justice for Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez for 12 years. Turkey orchestrated these attacks, yet justice has been deliberately delayed. Today, we [also] reaffirm our commitment to defending Rojava’s democratic gains. Protecting Rojava is not only protecting Kurds – it is protecting humanity,” he said.
Addressing the evolving political situation in Syria and calling for global solidarity, Aydar added, “The Turkish state is continuing its attacks against Rojava amid the political instability in the region. Just as we defended Kobanê, we will defend Rojava. The Kurdish question in Bakur [Turkish Kurdistan] is also at a critical juncture. Dialogue has started with [our] leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], and his vision for peace is clear. But Erdoğan’s government continues to escalate violence. We are ready for peace, but we will still resist any threats to our people and our struggle.”
Relatives of the victims also stood up to voice their grief and determination. Zeynep Kara, a relative of Evîn Goyî, one of those killed in the Paris shooting of 2022, said:
“The Kurdish people and their allies are carrying forward the struggle of those we lost. Until justice is served, our resistance will only grow stronger. The killers are known. France must break its silence.”
The rally concluded with calls for accountability, music from Koma Hunera Mizgîn, and chants of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom). The leadership and resistance of Kurdish women against ISIS and Turkey’s operations in northern Syria were a central theme of the day.
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The Kurdish struggle continues to inspire international solidarity. The commemoration was not only a moment of remembrance but also an assertion of the Kurdish people’s fight for justice, autonomy and recognition.
