NEWS

  1. Joe Robinson: Turkish court convicts former UK soldier
  2. Kongreya Star launches hunger strike for Afrin
  3. Turkish government arrests 2 more Austrian citizens
  4. Al Idlibi: Turkey could lose all its cards in Idlib
  5. Diyarbakır’s Art Scene and the Voice of Kurdish Resistance
  6. UN Commission: Turkey violated international law in Afrin
  7. HDP delegation held press conference in Berlin
  8. German opposition and a significant portion of the public object to Erdoğan being received with an official state ceremony.
  9. Turkish communist faces trial over anti-war remarks
  10. 18 dead as Syria Kurds clash with regime forces
  11. ISIS officer: Suicide bombers were sent to Europe by MİT
  12. Turkey HDP: Court jails pro-Kurdish leader Demirtas
  13. Kurdish forces ambush Turkish-backed fighters in Afrin, killing two
  14. Turkey: Over 50 journalists currently face trial on “terrorist propaganda” charges
  15. Kurdish youth continued Long March
  16. Six thousands refugees returned to Rojava in two months
  17. Women prisoners to protest conditions in Elazığ
  18. Human rights are constantly violated in Afrin
  19. Saturday Mothers to defy protest ban imposed by Turkey’s Erdogan
  20. Rûken: Isolation is part of the special war
  21. Tunç: Soldiers are threatening the villagers in Dersim to leave

OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS

  1. The world shrugs at Iranian misdeeds
  2. Final Trial of Selahattin Demirtas and MP Sirri Onder At the Silivri Prison Compound Court
  3. UN fears ‘humanitarian crisis’ as Syrian government prepares to retake Idlib from ‘jihadist’ rebels
  4. Lies upon lies told about ancient Sur district in Turkey’s southeast
  5. Only bones remain’: shattered Yazidis fear returning home
  6. Amid Death & Despair, A Feminist Revolution Is Happening In Syria
  7. PKK’s Kalkan: AKP built a surveillance state
  8. Ebdo denied allegation on closure of Syriac schools 

 

EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, ACTION

  1. PPT Session on the Violations with Impunity of the human rights of migrant and refugee peoples; to be held on 3-4 November 2018
  2. Revolution in making: 1st Conference 6 – 7 October 2018 conference
  3. Fighting fascism in the Middle East – Ocalan, the Kurds and defending the women’s revolution.
  4. 26th International Kurdish Cultural and Art Festival in Dinslaken, Germany

 

NEW BOOK

  1. Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdoğan’s Turkey

 

STATEMENTS

  1. KCK 12 September statement: Common struggle is the solution
  2. Message of Solidarity with the Saturday Mothers
  3. Anti-Racism and Progressive Values
  4. Durham Miners’ Statement in Solidarity with Abdullah Ocalan

 

SPECIAL APPEAL

  1. *Website help required for CAMPACC and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign*

——————————————————————–

NEWS

  1. Joe Robinson: Turkish court convicts former UK soldier
    15 September 2018/BBC News
    A former soldier with the British army who fought with Syrian Kurdish forces against so-called Islamic State in Syria has been given a seven year prison sentence in Turkey.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-45534483

 

  1. Kongreya Star launches hunger strike for Afrin
    15 September 2018/ANF English
    Kongreya Star has started hunger strike against the attacks of the occupying Turkish state and allied mercenaries in Afrin.
    https://anfenglish.com/rojava-northern-syria/kongreya-star-launches-hunger-strike-for-afrin-29649

 

  1. Turkish government arrests 2 more Austrian citizens
    14 September 2018/Stockholm Center for Freedom
    Two more Austrian citizens were recently arrested in Turkey and accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). According to a report by the Austrian Rundschau news outlet
    https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-government-arrests-two-more-austrian-citizens/

 

  1. Al Idlibi: Turkey could lose all its cards in Idlib
    14 September 2018/ANF English
    Shemal Al-Democratic Brigade Commander General Abu Umer Al Idlibi stressed that if the Syrian regime forces clear Idlib of Turkish state backed gangs, Turkey could lose all its cards in occupied centers like Jarablus, Bab, Azaz and Afrin.
    https://anfenglish.com/news/al-idlibi-turkey-could-lose-all-its-cards-in-idlib-29634

 

  1. Diyarbakır’s Art Scene and the Voice of Kurdish Resistance
    12 September 2018/Hyperallergic
    The center of Kurdish cultural revival has a new nonprofit independent art space that hopes to bridge the divide between local artists and the international art community.
    https://hyperallergic.com/458624/diyarbakirs-art-scene-and-the-voice-of-kurdish-resistance/

 

  1. UN Commission: Turkey violated international law in Afrin
    12 September 2018/ANF English
    The report of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic said Turkey guilty of various violations
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/rojava-northern-syria/un-commission-turkey-violated-international-law-in-afrin-29593

 

  1. HDP delegation held press conference in Berlin
    11 September 2018/ANF English
    The Peoples’ Democratic Party delegation, held a press conference in the Federal Press Hall in Berlin, near the Federal Parliament and the Office of the Chancellor.
    https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-delegation-held-press-conference-in-berlin-29576

 

  1. German opposition and a significant portion of the public object to Erdoğan being received with an official state ceremony.
    11 September 2018/ANF English
    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, having recently mended fences with the German state, will be holding his first official visit to Germany in years on September 28-29.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/majority-of-germans-say-erdogan-shouldn-t-address-turks-29570

 

  1. Turkish communist faces trial over anti-war remarks
    10 September 2018/Morning Star
    TURKISH communists have called for solidarity from the labour and democracy movement in the run-up to next month’s trial of opposition politician Selma Gurkan who faces court after criticising Turkey’s war on Afrin.
    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/turkish-communist-faces-trial-over-anti-war-remarks

 

  1. 18 dead as Syria Kurds clash with regime forces
    9 September 2018
    Clashes between Kurdish forces and regime fighters in the divided northeastern city of Qamishli killed 18 combatants Saturday, the Kurdish forces and a war monitor said.
    https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/366037-18-dead-as-syria-kurds-clash-with-regime-forces

 

  1. ISIS officer: Suicide bombers were sent to Europe by MİT
    8 September 2018/ANF English
    High ranking ISIS officer captured by the YPG Abu Kerem has made important confessions. Abu Kerem spoke about the Turkish state’s relationship with ISIS and stated that attacks in Europe have been arranged by Turkish intelligence.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/isis-officer-suicide-bombers-were-sent-to-europe-by-mIt-29499

 

  1. Turkey HDP: Court jails pro-Kurdish leader Demirtas
    7 September 2018/BBC News
    Selahattin Demirtas, a former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), will serve four years and eight months in jail, state media say.
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45450622

 

  1. Kurdish forces ambush Turkish-backed fighters in Afrin, killing two
    7 September 2018/Kurdistan 24
    The People’s Protection Units (YPG) on Friday claimed they had killed two fighters from the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad Division, a group that participated in the occupation of Afrin.
    http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/c74c47ae-f46a-4b20-9d5f-1f7434c920b5

 

  1. Turkey: Over 50 journalists currently face trial on “terrorist propaganda” charges
    06 September 2018/IFEX
    “Terrorist propaganda,” is a catch-all charge that the Turkish justice system has been using for more than 25 years to silence criticism and curb debate, especially about Turkey’s Kurdish minority.
    https://www.ifex.org/turkey/2018/09/06/terrorist-propaganda-trials/?

 

  1. Kurdish youth continued Long March
    04 September 2018/ANF English
    After the action demanding freedom for Öcalan was banned in Germany, youth are defying the ban and marching for the third day
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/kurdish-youth-continued-long-march-29396

 

  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

 

  1. Women prisoners to protest conditions in Elazığ
    04 September 2018/ANF English
    Women prisoners in Elazığ High Security Prison have sent letters to expose violations of their rights. The prisoners also announced that they would start civil disobedience action if the violations of rights were continued.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/women/women-prisoners-to-protest-conditions-in-elazig-29408

 

  1. Human rights are constantly violated in Afrin
    04 September 2018/ANF English
    Human Rights activist Mihemed Cemîl Xelil exposed the inhuman practices carried out by the Turkish state and its mercenary allies in Afrin.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/rojava-northern-syria/human-rights-are-constantly-violated-in-afrin-29399

 

  1. Saturday Mothers to defy protest ban imposed by Turkey’s Erdogan
    1 September 2018/Morning Star
    Turkey’s Saturday Mothers campaign group will defy a government ban against their protests today in Istanbul — a week after violent attacks by armed police saw mass arrests and the use of rubber bullets.
    https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/saturday-mothers-protest-defiance-ban

 

  1. Rûken: Isolation is part of the special war
    1 September 2018/ANF English
    KJK Coordination Member Zêrîn Rûken said the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan is part of the special war.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/ruken-isolation-is-part-of-the-special-war-29359

 

  1. Tunç: Soldiers are threatening the villagers in Dersim to leave
    29 August 2018/ANF English
    AKP is burning Dersim, while environmental activists, the people and HDP try to protect the city. Artist Ferhat Tunç said Turkish soldiers are trying to get the villagers to sign documents to leave the region.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/tunc-soldiers-are-threatening-the-villagers-in-dersim-to-leave-29288

 

OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS

  1. The world shrugs at Iranian misdeeds
    11 September 2018/Rudaw
    The Iranian state hanged three more Kurdish men. Tehran on the same day also launched ground-to-ground missiles deep into Iraqi Kurdistan, killing 16 members of dissident Iranian Kurdish political parties in Koya and wounding many civilians.
    http://www.rudaw.net/english/opinion/11092018

 

  1. Final Trial of Selahattin Demirtas and MP Sirri Onder At the Silivri Prison Compound Court
    11 September 2018/International Criminal Law Bureau
    Written by Margaret Owen, International Trial Observer and Barrister
    Selahattin Demirtas has been detained since November 2016 under anti-terror law. He faces various charges and is accused of making terrorist propaganda. Demirtas’ co-defendant is the HDP MP for Ankara, Siri Surreya Onder, who will also be present at the hearing.
    http://www.internationallawbureau.com/index.php/final-trial-of-selahattin-demirtas-and-mp-sirri-onder-at-the-silivri-prison-compound-court/

 

  1. UN fears ‘humanitarian crisis’ as Syrian government prepares to retake Idlib from ‘jihadist’ rebels
    11 September 2018/The Canary
    The UN warns of a catastrophe for the civilians in the Syrian region of Idlib if the government seeks to retake the rebel stronghold by force. But talks with the presidents of Iran, Turkey, and Russia have failed to produce an alternative to a military assault against the province.
    https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2018/09/11/un-fears-humanitarian-crisis-as-syrian-government-prepares-to-retake-idlib-from-jihadist-rebels/

 

  1. Lies upon lies told about ancient Sur district in Turkey’s southeast
    10 September 2018/Ahval News
    Every day there is more fake news about Sur, the historic centre of the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakır that was battered in months of fighting from late. When the fighting ended, bulldozers moved in and flattened much of what was left for redevelopment.
    https://ahvalnews.com/diyarbakir/lies-upon-lies-told-about-ancient-sur-district-turkeys-southeast

 

  1. Only bones remain’: shattered Yazidis fear returning home
    9 September 2018/The Guardian
    Yazidi survivors of Genocide remain scatters throughout the region, but there are still a few thousand Yazidis who remain enslaved by the remnants of ISIS.
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/09/yazidis-isis-only-bones-remain-fear-returning-home

 

  1. Amid Death & Despair, A Feminist Revolution Is Happening In Syria
    5 September 2018/Refinery 29
    There is a revolution going on right now. A feminist revolution, led by women, in Syria of all places – a country of death, destruction, dust and despair, if we are to believe what we see on our TV screens.
    https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/rojava-syria-feminist-revolution?_ga=2.27954495.264948855.1536312324-353575423.1471250105

 

  1. PKK’s Kalkan: AKP built a surveillance state
    04 September 2018/ANF English
    PKK Executive Committee Member Duran Kalkan said the AKP has built a “surveillance state” like Abdulhamit and wants to involve everybody in their crimes.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/features/pkk-s-kalkan-akp-built-a-surveillance-state-29415

 

  1. Ebdo denied allegation on closure of Syriac schools
    31 August 2018/ANF English
    Salih Ebdo said that the allegations about the closure of Syriac and Christian schools were not true.
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/rojava-northern-syria/ebdo-denied-allegation-on-closure-of-syriac-schools-29328

 

EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, ACTION

  1. PPT Session on the Violations with Impunity of the human rights of migrant and refugee peoples; to be held on 3-4 November 2018
    8 August 2018/Transnational Migrant Platform
    The Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) approach to uncovering the inconvenient truths that governments and other elites don’t want you to know about has been around since the days of the war in Vietnam.
    https://transnationalmigrantplatform.net/migrantppt/home-page/hearing-london

 

  1. Revolution in making: 1st Conference 6 – 7 October 2018 conference
    Register Here:
    http://revolutioninthemaking.blogsport.eu/registration/

    http://revolutioninthemaking.blogsport.eu

 

  1. Fighting fascism in the Middle East – Ocalan, the Kurds and defending the women’s revolution.
    10  September 2018/Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
    Speakers who have seen Democratic Confederalist society working first-hand discussed with attendees how trade unions, progressive groups and organisations can support the Kurds in defending the women’s liberations, democracy and the -cultural revolution they sacrificed so much to build.
    https://pppfestival.com/events/fighting-fascism-in-the-middle-east-ocalan-the-kurds-and-defending-the-womens-revolution/

 

  1. 26th International Kurdish Cultural and Art Festival in Dinslaken, Germany
    7 – 8 September 2018/Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
    This 26th International Kurdish Festival scheduled at Dinslaken was cancelled. First by the local municipality and then by court order the day before it was due to start. Members of the Imrali Delegation were invited to participate and deliver a speech at the event. On my arrival at Dusseldorf airport, I was dismayed to hear the news of cancellation.
    https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/26th-international-kurdish-culture-and-art-festival-dinslaken-germany-7-8th-september-2018/

 

NEW BOOK

  1. Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdoğan’s Turkey
    “Shocking revelations make this an emotionally powerful book. It is an objective, extremely well-documented analytical report of Turkish state terrorism against Kurds”— Dr. Tove Skutnabb-Kangas
    https://blackrosebooks.com/products/view/Your+Freedom+and+Mine%3A+Abdullah+Öcalan+and+the+Kurdish+Question+in+Erdoğan%27s+Turkey/82947

 

STATEMENTS

  1. KCK 12 September statement: Common struggle is the solution
    12 September 2018/ANF English
    The KCK has issued a written statement to mark the 38th anniversary of the 12 September 1980 military coup stressing that the solution lies in the common struggle of the peoples
    https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/kck-12-september-statement-common-struggle-is-the-solution-29587

 

  1. Message of Solidarity with the Saturday Mothers
    10 September 2018/Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
    Join speakers who have seen the society working first-hand and discuss how trade unions can support the Kurds in defending women’s liberation, democracy and equality in an area ravaged by violence repression and persecution.
    https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/message-of-solidarity-with-the-saturday-mothers/

 

  1. Anti-Racism and Progressive Values
    7 September 2018/Institute of Race Relations
    Below we reproduce the speech given by human rights lawyer Frances Webber to the meeting ‘Confronting Racism in the UK: a return to collective principles’, organised by the Monitoring Group at Conway Hall on 6 September.
    http://www.irr.org.uk/news/anti-racism-and-progressive-values/

 

  1. Durham Miners’ Statement in Solidarity with Abdullah Ocalan
    5 September 2018/Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
    A statement of solidarity given in Brussells by Joe Whitworth, Chairman of the Durham Miners Assoiciation.
    https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/durham-miners-statement-in-solidarity-with-abdullah-ocalan/

 

SPECIAL APPEAL

  1. *Website help required for CAMPACC and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign*
    6 September 2018/Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
    https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/2018/09/06/website-help-required-for-campacc-and-peace-in-kurdistan-campaign/

 

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 789
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.