Petition: Stop the persecution of Kurdish political activists in the UK

In the early hours of Wednesday 27 November, British police raided the Kurdish Community Centre in London and homes of Kurdish political activists.

Several individuals, including the co-chair of the Kurdish People’s Assembly and community activists, were arrested. Those detained and their families were subjected to excessive force.

This raid is a painful reminder of the systemic oppression that Kurdish people have faced for generations. Many in our community were forced to flee Turkey, seeking refuge in Europe to escape state-sponsored persecution and the denial of their fundamental rights. Yet, here in the UK, we are now witnessing the same attempts to criminalise and silence our community, actions that echo the authoritarian policies we left behind.

We demand:

1. Accountability for this raid and an immediate end to the unjust criminalisation of Kurdish people in the UK
2. A full and independent investigation into the conduct of the police during this operation and a transparent explanation for the actions taken
3. An investigation into the level of collaboration between the Turkish state and the British state against the members of the Kurdish Community and whether these raids were carried out due to pressure from the Turkish state
4. The immediate release of all individuals detained in this raid, including the co-chair of the Kurdish People’s Assembly
5. The reopening of the Kurdish Community Centre, which serves as a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable members of our community

No community should live in fear of being targeted for their identity, heritage, or political beliefs. The aggressive targeting of our community is not only a violation of our rights but also a threat to the democratic principles the UK claims to stand for.

This petition is posted online by an individual on behalf of the Kurdish Community in London