Building solidarity with the Kurdish struggle for democracy, equality and freedom

Tuesday 27th September • Room 3a Conference Centre • 12.30pm – 2pm

The situation in Turkey has deteriorated rapidly in the last 12 months with thousands arrested and detained for daring to speak out against government actions, in addition President Erdogan is now using the failed coup attempt to crack down even further. Academics, journalists, trade unionists, and civil and human rights activists have all fallen foul to this unrestrained repression and nowhere has this crackdown been felt more violently and oppressively than amongst the Kurdish population.

It is absolutely essential that the UK and wider international labour movement significantly step up their solidarity work with all progressive forces in Turkey and in particular with the Kurdish activists who are bearing the brunt of the crack down. The GMB and UNITE, together with activists in many other unions, have been actively engaged in building solidarity with the Kurdish population. Both unions are firmly of the view that the release of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan is critical if any renewed peace process can begin and have any chance of succeeding. This year’s TUC conference supported this position by unanimously passing an emergency motion calling for an end to the repression and the release of Abdullah Ocalan.

Come and join the discussion and hear first-hand accounts of the current situation from HDP MP Feleknas Uca and representative of the Kurdish National Congress (KNK) Michelle Allison.

Also speaking: Kate Osamor MP (invited), Richard Howitt MEP (invited) and Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director.

Refreshments Provided

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