NEWS
1. Kurds in Canada and Europe demand freedom for Öcalan
2. Ocalan’s lawyer: Rule of law suspended in Imrali
3. PKK captured 20 Turkish spies including 2 high ranking officials
4. Did the Turkish state withdraw MİT operatives within ISIS?
5. Russia stops Turkey in its path as it plans possible YPG attack
6. “The Syrian Crisis needs a solution based on a strong foundation”
7. Over 50 Families Return Home to Aleppo Province – Reconciliation Center
8. University of Raqqa liberated by SDF
9. “Organized women build decentralized, pluralistic, democratic Syria”
10. Staffan de Mistura: SDF liberate al-Raqqa
11. We will take our municipalities back!
12. 171 journalists behind bars in Turkey: Main opposition CHP report
13. Novelist Erdoğan says travel ban is psychological torture
14. Radiology professor, extradited from Bahrain, gets tortured in Turkish jail: lawyer
15. Some 50 post-coup victims committed suicide, 14 disappeared in 2017: main opposition
16. Turkey’s Mass Persecution of Christians and Kurds
17. Scottish police accused of acting on behalf of a ‘racist’ foreign government
18. Hundreds of British Kurds protest at arms fair over sales to Turkey
OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS
1. The Real Reason Turkey Doesn’t Want the War in Syria to End
2. Gauging the aftermath of Turkey’s great intelligence gaffe
3. [OPINION] Turkey is now a rogue intelligence state under Erdoğan
4. SADAT Erdogan’s private army
5. Turkey’s $200 Billion Wealth Fund Paralyzed by Internal Strife
6. Syria: Turkey to Launch Major Military Operation in September
EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS
1. Freedom for Ocalan Campaign Fringe Meeting at the TUC Conference in Brighton
2. Book Launch with Dr Soner Cagaptay
3. Call for 2nd Hasankeyf Global Action Day
4. Reorienting the PKK: Rojava and the Political Thought of Abdullah Öcalan.
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NEWS
1. Kurds in Canada and Europe demand freedom for Öcalan
11 September/ANF English
Kurds living in Canada, Italy, Austria, Sweden and Germany took to the streets and demonstrated for the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.
https://anfenglish.com/news/kurds-in-canada-and-europe-demand-freedom-for-Oecalan-22037
2. Ocalan’s lawyer: Rule of law suspended in Imrali
11 September/ANF English
The Imrali prison system and all its practices are illegal, lawyer Baris Oflas, a member of Libertarian Lawyers Platform, says.
https://anfenglish.com/news/ocalan-s-lawyer-rule-of-law-suspended-in-imrali-22039
3. PKK captured 20 Turkish spies including 2 high ranking officials
9 September/ANF English
PKK Executive Committee Member Karasu said: “We have 20 state officials including 2 of the MİT’s regional supervisors. The MİT members captured most recently are high ranking officials. The state remains silent.”
https://anfenglish.com/news/we-have-20-people-including-2-high-ranking-mIt-officials-22012
4. Did the Turkish state withdraw MİT operatives within ISIS?
9 September/ANF English
ISIS receiving deadly blows in Syria and Iraq has created panic in Ankara. Reports say the MİT operatives guiding ISIS are being withdrawn. Other reports claim some of these people who know about the relationship between Turkey and ISIS have been executed
https://anfenglish.com/news/did-the-turkish-state-withdraw-mIt-operatives-within-isis-21992
5. Russia stops Turkey in its path as it plans possible YPG attack
9 September/TRT World
Russia has deployed troops and Syrian regime forces to east Afrin, to prevent clashes between Turkish-backed opposition forces and the YPG.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/russia-stops-turkey-in-its-path-as-it-plans-possible-ypg-attack-10330
6. “The Syrian Crisis needs a solution based on a strong foundation”
9 September/ANF News
MSD Co-chair Ilham Ehmed stressed that the Syrian crisis needs a permanent solution based on a strong foundation through a new constitution that ensures the rights of all women, peoples and faiths for the whole country.
https://anfenglish.com/news/the-syrian-crisis-needs-a-solution-based-on-a-strong-foundation-21993
7. Over 50 Families Return Home to Aleppo Province – Reconciliation Center
8 September/Sputnik News
According to a representative of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, over 50 families have returned to their homes in the district of Afrin in Syria’s northern Aleppo province.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201709081057203828-families-return-home-aleppo/
8. University of Raqqa liberated by SDF
8 September/ANF News
The “Great Battle” waged by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to end ISIS invasion in Raqqa continues on day 95. Clashes between SDF fighters and ISIS have been focused in the city center while the fighters continue their advance in the eastern and western fronts. SDF fighters have taken some 70% of the city under control and have now liberated the University of Raqqa in the Eastern front.
https://anfenglish.com/rojava/university-of-raqqa-is-liberated-by-sdf-21982
9. “Organized women build decentralized, pluralistic, democratic Syria”
7 September/ANHA News Agency
The member of the preparatory committee of the Syrian Women Council Conference Hifin sheiko, pointed their purpose from this conference. “The purpose of the conference is to bring together the largest number of women from different components, in which opinions and proposals will be varied, which will give the conference a chance”, she said.
http://en.hawarnews.com/organized-women-build-decentralized-pluralistic-democratic-syria/
10. Staffan de Mistura: SDF liberate al-Raqqa
7 September/ANHA News
The envoy of UN of Syria Staffan de Mistura made it clear that October would probably be the end of IS mercenaries adding that Syrian Democratic Forces would liberate al-Raqqa by the end of October. Staffan de Mistura said that every IS stronghold would probably fall by the end of October.
http://en.hawarnews.com/staffan-de-mistura-sdf-liberate-al-raqqa/
11. We will take our municipalities back!
10 September/ANF NewsThe envoy of UN of Syria Staffan de Mistura made it clear that October would probably be the end of IS mercenaries adding that Syrian Democratic Forces would liberate al-Raqqa by the end of October.
https://anfenglish.com/news/we-will-take-our-municipalities-back-22020
12. 171 journalists behind bars in Turkey: Main opposition CHP report
11 September/Hurriyet Daily News
here are currently 171 Turkish journalists in jail in the country, according a report prepared by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) following a workshop last week.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/171-journalists-behind-bars-in-turkey-main-opposition-chp-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=117578&NewsCatID=339&utm_source=Boomtrain&utm_medium=manual&utm_campaign=20170906
13. Novelist Erdoğan says travel ban is psychological torture
31 August/Turkey Purge
Turkish author Aslı Erdoğan, who was released on Dec. 29, 2016 after 132 days in jail due to links to the pro-Kurdish Özgür Gündem daily, has said it is psychological torture not to be allowed to travel to accept the Erich Maria Remarque Award on Sept. 22 in Germany.
https://turkeypurge.com/novelist-erdogan-says-travel-ban-is-psychological-torture
14. Radiology professor, extradited from Bahrain, gets tortured in Turkish jail: lawyer
1September/Turkey Purge
In yet another sign of the abuse of the Interpol system by Turkish government, Harvard-educated Turkish professor was extradited to Turkey to endure torture and ill-treatment in notorious Turkish prison despite he was under the United Nations (UN) protection in Bahrain.
https://turkeypurge.com/radiology-professor-extradited-from-bahrain-gets-tortured-in-turkish-jail-lawyer
15. Some 50 post-coup victims committed suicide, 14 disappeared in 2017: main opposition
31 August/Turkey Purge
Nearly 50 people committed suicide after being subjected to post-coup rights violations while 14 others were forced or attempted to disappear between January 1 and August 31, according to main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP).
https://turkeypurge.com/some-50-post-coup-victims-committed-suicide-14-disappeared-in-2017-main-opposition
16. Turkey’s Mass Persecution of Christians and Kurds
4 September/Gatestone Institute
Yazidis, Alevis and women in the region are also being abused by Turkish authorities, and dozens of Kurdish journalists who have publicized this have been imprisoned.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10932/turkey-persecution-christians-kurds
17. Scottish police accused of acting on behalf of a ‘racist’ foreign government
4 September/The Canary
On 30 August, police raids took place in Edinburgh. But there were no arrests. And now, the “terrorised” victims have accused Police Scotland of being “under the pressure and influence of the Turkish consulate”, showing an “open form of racism”.
https://www.thecanary.co/2017/09/04/scottish-police-accused-acting-behalf-racist-foreign-government/
18. Hundreds of British Kurds protest at arms fair over sales to Turkey
10 September/The Guardian
Hundreds of British Kurds descended on Britain’s largest arms fair on Sunday to demand that Theresa May stop selling arms to the Turkish government, claiming the weapons will be used against their people in Turkey and Syria.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/10/hundreds-of-british-kurds-protest-at-arms-fair-over-sales-to-turkey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
OPINION, COMMENTARY, ANALYSIS
1. The Real Reason Turkey Doesn’t Want the War in Syria to End
10 September/The National Interest
The United States has not been clear about its exit plan in Syria, and will still need boots on the ground after ISIS has morphed into a non-state actor.
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-real-reason-turkey-doesnt-want-the-war-syria-end-22239
2. Gauging the aftermath of Turkey’s great intelligence gaffe
7 September/Al Monitor
The latest scandal coming out of Turkey reads like a novel by Tom Clancy or John le Carre: spies, kidnapping, assassination attempts and terrorists. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the utter lack of reaction by Turkish officialdom and media is stunning.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/09/turkey-iraqi-kurdistan-intelligence-officials-held-by-pkk.amp.html
3. [OPINION] Turkey is now a rogue intelligence state under Erdoğan
31 August/Turkish Minute
The sweeping changes to the intelligence law with the latest government decree that bypassed Parliament and avoided public debate cause one to conclude that Turkey under the regime of the authoritarian leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has officially moved to a rogue police and intelligence state, one that is a hostile, insular, irredentist and irrational actor in world politics.
https://www.turkishminute.com/2017/08/31/opinion-turkey-is-now-a-rogue-intelligence-state-under-erdogan/
4. SADAT Erdogan’s private army
August 2017/Purged Nato
The course of the history is full of stories of the dictatorial leaders, who spent their lives in order to grip total power and build a lasting reign. The dictators, like Turkey‟s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, seem determined to keep the legacy of their predecessors even in the 21st Century.
https://purgednato.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/sadat-erdogans-private-army-2017.pdf
5. Turkey’s $200 Billion Wealth Fund Paralyzed by Internal Strife
7 September/Bloomberg
Days after last year’s failed coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his allies set to work creating a wealth fund to safeguard what is now about $200 billion of assets, including cash, property and shares.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-07/turkey-s-200-billion-wealth-fund-paralyzed-by-internal-strife
6. Syria: Turkey to Launch Major Military Operation in September
1 September/STRategic Culture
Turkey is preparing to launch the second phase of Operation Euphrates Shield after the next round of Astana peace talks scheduled to take place on September 13-15. The Turkish military has prepared a road map. This month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of upcoming operations on the Syrian soil.
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2017/09/01/syria-turkey-launch-major-military-operation-september.html
EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS
1. Freedom for Ocalan Campaign Fringe Meeting at the TUC Conference in Brighton 12th September
https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/2017/09/07/tuc-fringe-meeting-resisting-dictatorship-in-turkey-and-building-a-democratic-alternative-in-syria-the-critical-role-of-the-kurds-in-defining-a-new-middle-east/
2. Book Launch with Dr Soner Cagaptay
11 September/CEFTUS
In this book launch, Beyer Family fellow and Director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute, Dr Soner Cagaptay will look at President Erdoğan’s roots in Turkish history, what he believes in and how he has cemented his rule, as well as what this means for the world. The discussion will also unpick the ‘threats’ Erdogan has worked to combat – from the liberal Turks to the Gulen movement, from coup plotters to Kurdish nationalists – all of which have culminated in the crisis of modern Turkey.
http://ceftus.org/2017/07/21/book-launch-with-dr-soner-cagaptay/
3. Call for 2nd Hasankeyf Global Action Day
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
We call activists, social movements, NGO’s and all others in the world to join the second global action day for the defense of Hasankeyf and the Tigris River on 23rd September 2017! It is under threat by the Ilisu Project; lets protest this one of most controversial dams in the world!
https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/2017/09/01/call-for-2nd-hasankeyf-global-action-day/
4. Reorienting the PKK: Rojava and the Political Thought of Abdullah Öcalan
12 October/LSE Middle East Centre
In its 1978 manifesto, the PKK declared the establishment of an independent state to be the most important political goal of any national liberation movement. Twenty years on, the party’s leader Abdullah Öcalan changed this when he developed an ideological framework based on the idea of self-governing, stateless societies as the best way of addressing socioeconomic and sociocultural injustices. In this talk, Joost Jongerden explains this paradigm shift, which reoriented the PKK as well as other Kurdish movements in the Middle East.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reorienting-the-pkk-rojava-and-the-political-thought-of-abdullah-ocalan-tickets-36896992899#listing-organizer
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: Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford, Jill Evans MEP, Jean Lambert MEP,Julie Ward MEP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Hywel Williams MP, Kate Osamor MP, Elfyn Llwyd, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, John Austin, Christine Blower, NUT International Secretary, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, General Federations of Trade Unions, Bruce Kent, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, James Kelman, Margaret Owen OBE, Prof Mary Davis, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Mark Thomas, Nick Hildyard, Stephen Smellie, Derek Wall, Melanie Gingell, Steve Sweeney