Darmstadt: Protest against Turkish use of chemical weapons in Iraq!

Darmstadt: Protest against Turkish use of chemical weapons in Iraq!

In Darmstadt today, activists from the Kurdish diaspora sent a clear signal and demonstrated against Turkey's use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan. The rally on Luisenplatz was organized by the Kurdish People's Council and the Women's Assembly. At the beginning of the event, a moving minute's silence was held for those killed in the Kurdish liberation struggle. The participants expressed their solidarity with the victims of these armed conflicts and called for an end to the attacks aimed at suppressing the Kurdish movement. This reports anfdeutsch.com.

“Turkey's attacks, which include chemical weapons, come amid a ceasefire declared unilaterally by the PKK,” clarified Mehmet Çopan, co-chair of the FCDK-KAWA Federation. He described the military actions as “a new wave of attacks using immoral means.” The ongoing attacks aim to weaken the political influence of the Kurdish movement and destroy the prospect of future Kurdish status.

International responsibility

A crucial point in Çopan's speech was the call for international solidarity. He appealed to democratic actors in Europe to network more intensively and work together. “Turkey tolerates Israel's influence in the Middle East while at the same time attacking Kurdish political structures,” he vehemently criticized, highlighting the Turkish government's double standards.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) has documented Turkey's systematic use of chemical weapons in an information dossier. This dossier, which is available, among other things, on the website civaka-azad.org published describes numerous attacks since the 1990s in which Kurdish fighters and civilians became victims.

“It is time for international institutions and governments to bring those responsible in Turkey to justice,” the dossier demands, highlighting the international community’s weak response to these crimes.

The call for support

Another important step for the Kurdish community is the upcoming international conference “Kurdistani Independent Youth in the Diaspora”, which will take place from August 16 to 18, 2024 in Hamminkeln, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is aimed at activists from the Kurdish diaspora and is intended to provide a platform for networking and collaboration. Topics such as media, literature, art and sport are the focus and want to promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Details on how to register can be found at kurdische-gemeinde.de.

The protest in Darmstadt and the upcoming events reflect the unbroken will of the Kurdish diaspora to draw attention to the grievances and to fight for fairness and equality. More than ever, it is crucial to stand together and take a clear position against injustice.