Kurdish activists and their friends in Cologne on Monday issued a joint statement. The protestors declared that they will form a united struggle against Turkey’s ground-and-air-campaign targeting Zap, Avashin and Metina regions in Iraqi Kurdistan., according to ANF.
Defining the Turkish campaign as a “genocidal attack,” Yüksel Koç, co-chair of the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCKD-E) said, “They want to occupy Kurdistan and eliminate Kurdish people. That is why they launched the attack on April 24. This is also the anniversary of the Armenian genocide.”
“The guerilla protects the dignity of Kurdistan whist the Kurdistan Regional Government supports the occupation with their silence,” Koç added.
“The Turkish state is an occupying force, targeting the achievements of the Kurdish people. We Kurds shall resist and take to the streets in the country and abroad. We wish success to the guerilla, the protectors of our people,” said Goran Babali, a representative of the Gorran Movement in Europe (Movement for Change), a Kurdish political party active in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Leman Stehn made a speech on behalf of the Kurdistan Communist Party. “United, we shall defeat fascism. These many organisations coming together and issuing this statement is meaningful for unity. We will not surrender to genocide, nor to occupation,” Stehn said.
Süleyman Gülcan, the co-chair of the Confederation of Workers from Turkey in Europe (ATIK) urged the communities in Europe to raise voice against their governments. “The fascist Turkish state commits atrocities and occupation in Iraqi Kurdistan. [Mevlüt] Çavuşoğlu visited Germany last week and was welcomed. We call on the European public to take a stance against their own governments, which give support to the occupation,” Gülcan said.
Speaking on behalf of the Kurdish artists giving support to the protest, Diyar Güney called on the artists and intellectuals in Kurdistan and in Europe. “The artists should stand against this occupation, especially in South Kurdistan. History now opens a path for the Kurds to achieve a status, but the Turkish state seeks to stop that. Artists should also stand united for the Kurds to achieve their long-deserved status.”
The KCKD-E also shared an announcement of the upcoming protests to be held in Europe. According to the KCKD-E statement, a march will be held in Strasbourg, France on May 12 and a weekly sit-in vigil will be launched in front of the Council of Europe office as Kurdish activists and representatives hold meetings with the Council representatives.
Another march is planned to be held in Brussels by the Kurdistani organisations and their internationalist friends at the end of May, the KCKD-E announced.
