#HandsOffKurds
In collaboration with the fascist Turkish state, the British Counter-Terrorism Command has launched an unprecedented and brutal series of armed raids on the Kurdish Community Centre in London and the homes of Kurdish political activists.
We unequivocally condemn these raids and demand:
The immediate release of all our friends.
The reopening of the Kurdish Community Centre.
An independent public inquiry into the excessive and unprecedented use of violence against the Kurdish community.
An end to use of terrorism laws, including the new Terrorism Act, to justify the repression of Kurdish activists.
Reopen the Kurdish Community Centre – Release all Our Friends immediately
On 27 November 2024, the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey was raided in what we believe was an unjust and heavy-handed operation by counter-terrorism police. Doors were forcibly broken down, members of our community were arrested
without credible evidence, and our vital community space was sealed off. Following this raid, police distributed leaflets across the borough, spreading harmful and misleading portrayals of our peaceful community.
The Kurdish community has always been a positive and integral part of British society. For over 50 years, we have lived and worked alongside you, contributing to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of this country. Many of us came to Britain
seeking refuge from systemic oppression in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, where our language, culture, and political identity were brutally suppressed. Across these nations, Kurds have faced imprisonment, violence, and persecution simply for asserting their identity and their right to exist.
The Kurdish Community Centre became a lifeline for many of us—a place to preserve our heritage, support one another, and contribute meaningfully to society. Kurdish fighters were once celebrated by UK politicians, the media, and the public for their role in defeating ISIS. Now, the UK government appears to prioritise trade and defence ties with the fascist Turkish regime, targeting our community to appease an oppressive regime.
The scale of this operation is deeply troubling. Riot police and armed units patrol our streets, police helicopters and drones circle overhead, and homes have been littered with leaflets vilifying our entire community. This disproportionate and wasteful use of resources is an affront to justice and undermines public trust. The closure of the Kurdish Community Centre has left many, including women, the elderly, and other vulnerable individuals, without essential support. Outside the centre, eight individuals have begun a hunger strike to protest these oppressive measures, while one detainee, Ali Poyraz, has also commenced a hunger strike in his cell, risking his health to demand justice.
We ask for your solidarity during this challenging time. Stand with us to demand the reopening of our community centre, the release of all detainees, and an end to the criminalisation of our community. Together, we can ensure that justice, fairness, and truth prevail.
Reopen the Kurdish Community Centre
Release all Our Friends immediately
Thank you for standing with us.
Unity of Democratic Organisations Britain
Download this leaflet as a pdf here: Leaflet
leaflet