“World Kobanê Day” begins on 1 November to remember the resistance of the Kobanê people against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in 2014.
The RiseUp4Rojava initiative has called on activists around the world to organise a week of actions in solidarity with Kobanê.
Their statement reminded people that on 1 November 2014 millions around the world took to the streets to express their solidarity with the resistance of Kobanê against ISIS. The initiative announced that they are going to organise various actions during the week of 1 to 8 of November, and called on others to participate.
From RiseUp4Rojava’s statement:
“Let’s express together our solidarity with the fighting people of Rojava and take to the streets on 1 November, World Kobanê Day!
“From 2 to 5 November, let us together highlight the struggles and goals that unite us and move us globally, and that strengthen the common alliance in our diversity.
“Let us together, from 6 to 8 November, disturb – blockade – occupy in a decentralised way the places of international cooperation and support for the Turkish state”.
What happened?
In the autumn of 2014, ISIS tried to occupy Kobanê Canton in Northern Syria. However, they encountered great resistance from the peoples of Kobanê, especially the Kurdish people. The resistance against the tanks, cannons and heavy weapons of ISIS became a beacon of hope for the peoples of the Middle East.
This resistance was supported and respected by activists from all around the world, and the battle for Kobanê was considered a turning point in the war against the Islamic State.