‘Hands off Kurds’ published a report on Wednesday condemning the raid on the Kurdish Community Centre (KCC) in London on 27 November. The authors pointed out the likely connection between Turkish-UK common interests and the raid on the KCC. Kurdish people have been protesting against the arrest of seven Kurdish activists – and the closure of the centre – by organising a hunger strike and daily mobilisations in London.
Protests and organising against the raids
After the closure of the KCC and the arrest of the seven Kurdish political activists, emergency protests were organised by Kurds and their supporters. The Kurdish community gathered around the KCC, organising daily protests and starting an indefinite hunger strike. Detained writer Ali Poyraz and activists Beritan Silemani and Devrim Sara started the hunger strike, which others have joined.
People organised a Crisis Desk to manage a coordinated response. The police raids, in which hundreds of police and special forces took part, caused damage to people’s homes, and people were prevented from returning home for days because of police restrictions. The first family to return to their home did so only after five days.
The raid was traumatic for the families and especially for their children, who were subjected to police violence. One woman reportedly suffered a heart attack while being handcuffed.
People organise to raise their voices against repressive policies
The Crisis Desk issued a report following the raid, making clear that the KCC has always respected UK law and has become a point of reference for Kurdish people fleeing violence in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Founded in 1992, the KCC provided services to newly arrived refugees, organising events on Kurdish culture, language classes, women’s empowerment and helping to resolve family problems.
As a centre of organisation for Kurdish people, the KCC became a centre of the life of Kurdish people in London, especially in the Haringey neighbourhood, where it is located. “By targeting the Kurdish Community Centre, the UK has, in effect, undermined Kurdish efforts to organise and voice opposition to these egregious acts of oppression,” say the report’s authors.
The report highlight the divisive police tactics used during the raid, emphasising how it put a strain on the social relations between the Kurdish community and the surrounding area. “The tactics employed during the raid, compounded by the distribution of police leaflets in the neighbourhood, framing the Kurdish community as a security threat, have deepened fear and division,” the authors wrote.
UK, Turkey and democratic rights
The raid came shortly after a visit to the UK by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The report highlights the long-standing and close ties between the UK and Turkey over mutual interests in Middle East politics. “By targeting a peaceful community, the operation appears to have been driven by geopolitical considerations rather than credible security threats,” the authors conclude.
Police raids on Kurds: UK-Turkey policy under scrutiny
The operation was carried out under the UK’s anti-terrorism legislation. The report critiques this misuse of the UK legal system. It calls for “a reflection on the role of anti-terror laws in a society that upholds democratic principles and human rights”.
Kurdish people demand investigations and their rights
Kurdish people have launched a petition calling for “an end to the persecution of Kurdish political activists in the UK”. Their demands include the investigation of the police behaviour during the operation, and an investigation of the level of collusion between the Turkish state and British authorities in arresting the members of the Kurdish community.
Haringey’s Kurdish community and their supporters have been holding daily vigils in front of the KCC, and are calling on everyone to support their demand for the release of the imprisoned activists, and for the respect of their democratic rights to express their cultural identity without being subjected to state repression. Kurdish activists also launched a website to follow the latest developments related to the KCC.
On the morning of Thursday 5 December, after more than a week of the police blockade around KCC, the closure of the centre was lifted. People are celebrating, and have re-entered the building.
Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police have announced that they are extending the detention of the seven detainees, potentially until Monday 9 December.
