NEWS
1. Six thousands refugees returned to Rojava in two months
2. YJŞ: Organized women are the best response to the genocide
3. Turkey turning ‘blind eye’ to Syrian rebel abuses in Afrin
4. Austrian Kurd arrested at Turkish airport for critical Facebook posts
5. Municipality of Florence demands freedom for Öcalan
6. Syria: Turkey must stop serious violations by allied groups and its own forces in Afrin
7. Turkey’s Ilisu Dam will flood 12,000-year-old Hasankeyf settlement
8. KCDK-E: Shengal’s autonomous status must be recognized
9. Erdogan’s Most Charismatic Rival in Turkey Challenges Him, From Jail
10. Kurdish leader reveals details of first meeting with Syrian government
11. Rojava Kurds will support Assad in Idlib – if it helps them retake Afrin
12. Congress wants to halt F-35 sales to a NATO ally over Mattis’ objections, and it’s a sign of growing tension
OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS
1. Betrayed by extremists and abandoned by their governments, these women and children have nowhere to go
2. Turkey’s position in Syria may now become untenable
3. US sanctions two top Turkish officials over pastor’s detention in spiraling crisis
4. British man who fought Isis in Syria has terror charges dropped
5. Allies in Name Only? The U.S. and Turkey Slug It Out
6. Turkey’s Erdogan Wants To Crush The Kurds And Recreate The Ottoman World | Opinion
7. Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan doubles down on genocide
8. İHD: 1,413 detained, 128 tortured in Kurdish-populated region of Turkey in first half of 2018
9. Russia-Turkey ties face ‘moment of truth’ over Syria’s Idlib
10. The lethal border wall that the mainstream press is shamefully silent about
11. Mesut Ozil Germany row rages on with star accused of hypocrisy
12. Two steps forward, one step back in Kurdistan
13. Turkish court bans book on history of Kurdistan
14. Fawza Youssef: Lausanne paved of nation-state, turned into grinding mills of its people
15. Wary of U.S. ally, Syrian Kurds look to Damascus for talks
EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, ACTION
1. (VIDEOS) Public Forum | Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Turkey and Kurds: The Verdict Turkey Found Guilty of ‘War Crimes’: Where do we go from here?
2. (VIDEO) Your Freedom and Mine, Book Launch and Discussion
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NEWS
1. Six thousands refugees returned to Rojava in two months
04 August 2018/ANF News
Thousands of people are going back to Rojava from South Kurdistan.
https://anfenglish.com/news/six-thousands-refugees-returned-to-rojava-in-two-months-28738
2. YJŞ: Organized women are the best response to the genocide
03 August 2018/ANF English
Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) Command issued a written statement on their official website for the 4th anniversary of the 74th genocide and said the attacks aimed to annihilate their identity.
https://anfenglish.com/women/yjS-organized-women-are-the-best-response-to-the-genocide-28701
3. Turkey turning ‘blind eye’ to Syrian rebel abuses in Afrin
02 August 2018/The National
Amnesty accuses Turkish army of giving fighters ‘free rein’ to commit crimes against residents
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/turkey-turning-blind-eye-to-syrian-rebel-abuses-in-afrin-1.756551
4. Austrian Kurd arrested at Turkish airport for critical Facebook posts
02 August 2018/Kurdistan 24
Kurd born in Turkey holding Austrian citizenship, was banned from Turkey for five years for criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ankara’s Kurdish policy on Facebook, Kronen Zeitung reported on Thursday.
http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/0640083e-ca30-4c5a-b0da-98a7fcb036a5
5. Municipality of Florence demands freedom for Öcalan
02 August 2018/ANF News
The Florence City Council issued a decision on July 31, demanding the release of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the recognition of Kurdish rights and autonomy.
https://anfenglish.com/news/kcdk-e-shengal-s-autonomous-status-must-be-recognized-28637
6. Syria: Turkey must stop serious violations by allied groups and its own forces in Afrin
02 August 2018/Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/08/syria-turkey-must-stop-serious-violations-by-allied-groups-and-its-own-forces-in-afrin/
7. Turkey’s Ilisu Dam will flood 12,000-year-old Hasankeyf settlement
02 August 2018/Rudaw, Associated French Press (AFP)
[PICTURES]
The Turkish town of Hasankeyf, a former trading post along the Silk Road, will soon be partially flooded by the Ilisu Dam.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/010820181
8. KCDK-E: Shengal’s autonomous status must be recognized
31 July 2018/ANF News
The European Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (KCDK-E) Co-Presidential Council issued a written statement for the 4th anniversary of the genocidal attacks against Shengal and said
https://anfenglish.com/news/kcdk-e-shengal-s-autonomous-status-must-be-recognized-28637
9. Erdogan’s Most Charismatic Rival in Turkey Challenges Him, From Jail
31 July 2018/The New York Times
A prominent Kurdish politician, Selahattin Demirtas once helped Turkey’s leader come close to ending the decades-old conflict with Kurdish militants that has killed tens of thousands of people.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/world/europe/turkey-kurds-selahattin-demirtas.html
10. Kurdish leader reveals details of first meeting with Syrian government
30 July 2018/Kurdistan 24
In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan 24, Salih Muslim said the meeting with government officials might be followed by another series of meetings to extend talks and include political and military issues.
http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/54d92d6a-2f82-457f-a8da-5b5b579ef70c
11. Rojava Kurds will support Assad in Idlib – if it helps them retake Afrin
26 July 2018/Rudaw
Kurdish authorities in Rojava say they are ready to take part in a Syrian government operation in Idlib if doing so brings them closer to retaking Afrin, which was seized by the Turkish military and its Syrian opposition proxies earlier this year.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/26072018
12. Congress wants to halt F-35 sales to a NATO ally over Mattis’ objections, and it’s a sign of growing tension
26 July 2018/Business Insider
US lawmakers have proposed blocking deliveries of the F-35 fighter jet to NATO partner Turkey.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/congress-halts-f-35-sale-to-turkey-over-mattis-objection-amid-tensions-2018-7?r=US&IR=T
OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS
1. Betrayed by extremists and abandoned by their governments, these women and children have nowhere to go
01 August 2018/The Canary
Following an on-site visit, The Canary has learned that ‘Roj Camp’ in northern Syria (Rojava) houses 2,000 refugees. Almost all of them are reportedly the wives and children of current or former members of Daesh. But often, their own governments do not want them back, or simply claim they are unable to help them.
https://www.thecanary.co/feature/2018/08/01/betrayed-by-extremists-and-abandoned-by-their-governments-these-women-and-children-have-nowhere-to-go/
2. Turkey’s position in Syria may now become untenable
01 August 2018/Rudaw
The Kurds of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and their allies are backed by the Americans but appear willing to negotiate with Assad. During the past two weeks, they sent representatives to hold talks with the regime.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/01082018
3. US sanctions two top Turkish officials over pastor’s detention in spiraling crisis
01 August 2018/ABC News
The White House announced Wednesday that Turkey’s Interior Minister and Justice Minister would be hit with sanctions after repeated attempts by the Trump administration to negotiate for Andrew Brunson’s release and threats from President Donald Trump himself that Turkey would be penalized if he weren’t.
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/us-sanctions-top-turkish-officials-pastors-detention-blowing/story?id=56970569
4. British man who fought Isis in Syria has terror charges dropped
31 July 2018/The Guardian
A former British soldier accused of attending terrorist training camps run by Kurdish militia fighting against Islamic State has had charges against him dropped.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/31/james-matthews-who-joined-kurdish-forces-to-fight-isis-not-guilty
5. Allies in Name Only? The U.S. and Turkey Slug It Out
31 July 2018/Bloomberg News
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-31/allies-in-name-only-the-u-s-and-turkey-slug-it-out-quicktake?utm_source=google&utm_medium=bd&cmpId=google
6. Turkey’s Erdogan Wants To Crush The Kurds And Recreate The Ottoman World | Opinion
31 July 2018/Newsweek
Running to be reelected in a race warped in his favor, Turkey’s President Erdogan campaigned by demonizing minority Kurds to create a common enemy—as tyrants do.
https://www.newsweek.com/turkeys-erdogan-kurds-opinion-1050039
7. Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan doubles down on genocide
30 July 2018/American Enterprise Institute, Washington Examiner
As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tightened his stranglehold over Turkey and Turkish society, any elements of pragmatism that marked his first years in office have evaporated, supplanted by ego and ideology.
https://www.aei.org/publication/turkeys-recep-tayyip-erdogan-doubles-down-on-genocide/
8. İHD: 1,413 detained, 128 tortured in Kurdish-populated region of Turkey in first half of 2018
28 July 2018/Stockholm Freedom Center
At least 128 prisoners were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in prisons and 1,413 people, including 44 children, in Turkey in first 6 months of 2018.
https://stockholmcf.org/ihd-1413-detained-128-tortured-in-kurdish-populated-region-of-turkey-in-first-half-of-2018/
9. Russia-Turkey ties face ‘moment of truth’ over Syria’s Idlib
27 July 2018/Al Monitor
Putin and Erdogan met at BRICS summit in Johannesburg to discuss growing tensions over Idlib, where Russia and Turkey may be facing their moment of truth.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/07/russia-turkey-syria-idlib.html#ixzz5NKi51a3B
10. The lethal border wall that the mainstream press is shamefully silent about
27 July 2018/The Canary
Turkey has built a massive wall on its border dividing Kurdish communities that live in northern Syria and southern Turkey. Human rights campaigners and refugee advocates have slammed Turkey over this, but mainstream media outlets have largely ignored the story.
https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2018/07/27/the-lethal-border-wall-that-the-mainstream-press-is-shamefully-silent-about/
11. Mesut Ozil Germany row rages on with star accused of hypocrisy
27 July 2018/ The Week
Mesut Ozil has been challenged to speak out against racism in Turkey by a fellow German-Turkish professional who is known for his pro-Kurdish views.
http://www.theweek.co.uk/premier-league/95374/mesut-ozil-germany-row-deniz-naki-turkey
12. Two steps forward, one step back in Kurdistan
26 July 2018/Rudaw
UK All Parliamentary Group new report on its delegation in May to Kurdistan and to Baghdad has been published. It is a lengthy document that examines Baghdad’s reaction to the referendum, the resurgence of Kurdistan, how robust pragmatism is needed in Erbil-Baghdad relations based on the constitution, how the KRG should accelerate internal reform, and how the UK can help boost Kurdistani capacity.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/26072018
13. Turkish court bans book on history of Kurdistan
27 July 2018/ Turkey Purge
A book titled Kürdistan Tarihi (The History of Kurdistan) from the Avesta publishing house has been banned by a Turkish court, the Gazete Duvar news website reported on Thursday.
https://turkeypurge.com/turkish-court-bans-book-on-history-of-kurdistan
14. Fawza Youssef: Lausanne paved of nation-state, turned into grinding mills of its people
25 July 2018/ANHA Hawar News Agency
Co-chair of the Executive Body of North Syria Federation Fawza Yousef says Lausanne Convention paved the way for the nation-states in the region. “So, there is a need for a new order and a new concept..”.
http://www.hawarnews.com/en/roportaj/fawza-youssef-lausanne-paved-of-nation-state-turned-into-grinding-mills-of-its-people-r12.html
15. Wary of U.S. ally, Syrian Kurds look to Damascus for talks
25 July 2018/Reuters
Syria’s Kurds are trying to forge ties with Damascus as they seek to protect gains made in seven years of war, wary of its unpredictable U.S. ally and more ready than ever to negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds/wary-of-u-s-ally-syrian-kurds-look-to-damascus-for-talks-idUSKBN1KF2NN
EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, ACTION
1. (VIDEOS) Public Forum | Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Turkey and Kurds: The Verdict Turkey Found Guilty of ‘War Crimes’: Where do we go from here?
17 July 2018
https://vimeo.com/user87470263/videos
2. (VIDEO) Your Freedom and Mine, Book Launch and Discussion
11 July 2018
https://vimeo.com/281514122 <https://vimeo.com/281514122>
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Gingell – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Fax: 020 7263 0596
Patrons: John Austin, Christine Blower, NUT International Secretary, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans MEP, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Rahila Gupta, Nick Hildyard, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert MEP, Elfyn Llwyd, Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, International Coordinator, Green Party of England and Wales; Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Gareth Peirce, Maxine Peake, Lord Rea, Joe Ryan, Stephen Smellie, Steve Sweeney, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward MEP, Hywel Williams MP.