Kurdish community, Kurdish Women, Peace process

We demand justice!

CENI – Kurdish Women’s Office for peace have released this statement on the anniversary of the assassinations in Paris of Sakine, Fidan and Leyla.

Also, the CENI Info news bulletin for June is available in English for the first time, bring you all the latest news from the Kurdish women’s movement in Kurdistan and the diaspora. You can download it here. 

We won’t rest until the murders of Sakine, Fidan and Leyla are completely solved:

 We demand justice!

On 9 January 2013, a terrible crime took place in central Paris. Three female Kurdish politicians and fighters for freedom and women rights, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were gruesomely murdered with shots to the head. The Kurdish people, women and democratic forces around the world, are demanding a prompt and full investigation into the killings.

Continue reading “We demand justice!” →

KCK trials, Peace process, Political prisoners

Write to Adem Uzun!

Earlier in the year, Peace in Kurdistan campaign and CAMPACC began a number of initiatives to demand the release of Brussels-based Kurdish activist Adem Uzun, who was arrested in Paris last October. He was denied bail and he has now spent seven months in prison without a trial date set.

Read more about Adem, the political nature of his arrest and our campaigns to release him.

In February we sent an open letter to the French Justice Minister, Christiane Taubira, which was signed by over 200 campaigners, politicians, academics and community activists, urging the French authorities to release him. Anyone who missed their chance to sign the open letter can still get involved – we also designed and printed cards that YOU can send off her. The more that arrive on her desk the better, so get in touch if you’d like some to send.

Most importantly, we are appealing to everyone to write directly to Adem. It is often said that the most frightening thing for prisoners is the fear of being forgotten. We want to make sure that Adem is not forgotten, and a simple letter from you could break the isolation he must undoubtedly feel at this time. We believe and act of solidarity like this will provide him with great comfort and strength.

Continue reading “Write to Adem Uzun!” →

Kurdish community, Kurdish Women, Peace process

A Call for Justice: Over 100 women join together to demand justice for Sakine, Fidan and Leyla


Margaret Owen OBE and Professor Mary Davis, two patrons of the Peace in Kurdistan campaign, have written an open letter to the Justice Minister of France, Christiane Taubira, demanding justice for Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez who were brutally assassinated on 9 January 2013. The assassinations, which took place days after peace talks with the Turkish government and Abdullah Ocalan were announced, was not only an attack on these three well-loved and well-known activists, but on the Kurdish women’s movement and the Kurdish liberation struggle as a whole.

The letter has been signed by nearly 120 women from across the UK, and the list includes members of parliament, academics, campaigners, trade unionists and many more.  These women have chosen to stand by their Kurdish sisters who worked tirelessly for peace and justice for Kurdistan. So that their message is heard clearly, we have also sent copies to of the letter to MP’s Theresa May, Yvette Cooper, Baroness Warsi, Harriet Harman and Emily Thornberry. The letter has also been published in today’s print edition of the Morning Star.

Continue reading “A Call for Justice: Over 100 women join together to demand justice for Sakine, Fidan and Leyla” →

Kurdish Women

KJB: The murders in Paris must not be forgotten

Statement by the High Women’s Council:

To the public

 On January 9, 2013, the co-founder of the PKK and leading figure of the Kurdish women’s movement, Sakine Cansiz, and our comrades Fidan Dogan (Rojbin) and Leyla Saylemez (Ronahi) were murdered in the French capital of Paris. Although a month has already passed, these murders are still not sufficiently resolved. The French state refrains from disclosing its findings to the public.

Continue reading “KJB: The murders in Paris must not be forgotten” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Political prisoners

New international campaign for Adem Uzun launched

Peace in Kurdistan campaign, along with Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC), is pleased to support this new international campaign launched by the EUTCC calling for the release of Adem Uzun:

EUTCC – TURKEY CIVIC COMMISSION

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN

FREE ADEM UZUN
THE LIBERATION OF A GENUINE KURDISH DIPLOMAT : ADEM UZUN

Editorial

The international community while waiting for creative dynamics in context with the complicated Turkish-Kurdish dialogue at the same time Mr. Adem Uzun as one of the ARCHITECTS
OF KURDISH DIPLOMACY is arrested in Paris.

Continue reading “New international campaign for Adem Uzun launched” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Kurdish Women

CENI: We demand justice for Sakine, Fidan and Leyla!

CENI Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace have issued this statement and appeal in response to the assassinations of three Kurdish activists in Paris last week. Please see the appeals below!

We demand justice for Sakine, Fidan and Leyla!

On 9 January 2013 an atrocious crime was committed in the center of Paris which has deeply shaken all Kurdish women’s organizations and the Kurdish people, international women’s organizations, women in many different countries as well as friends of the Kurdish people, progressive forces and the democratic public. Three Kurdish women politicians and fighters for freedom and women’s liberation – Sakine Cansız,  Fidan Dogan and Leyla Şaylemez  – were brutally and dastardly murdered.

Continue reading “CENI: We demand justice for Sakine, Fidan and Leyla!” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Kurdish Women, Peace process

EUTCC: In memory of our friends

Issued: 10 January, 2013

For immediate release

IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS:

SAKINE CANZIZ, FIDAN DOGAN, AND LEYLA SÖYLEMEZ

It was with shock and grief we received the horrible news about the deaths of our dear friends who were massacred in Paris today in the most grotesque way. Sakine Canziz, the co-founder of the PKK in 1978 holds a crucial role in the party. Fidan Dogan (Rojbin), a Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) member from Paris, has also been working closely alongside the EUTCC for many years and her work has been very important to our international work for the Kurds.

Continue reading “EUTCC: In memory of our friends” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Kurdish Women, Peace process

GUE/NGL Group of the European Parliament condemns the assassination of three Kurdish activists in Paris

(FR/EN)

Le Groupe GUE/NGL du Parlement  Européen condamne  l’assassinat de trois activistes kurdes à Paris

GUE/NGL Group of the European Parliament condemns the  assassination of three Kurdish activists in Paris

(English text  follows below)

Brussels, 10/01/2013

“Je n’ai pas de mot pour  exprimer l’horreur et la tristesse que je ressens face à ce crime. Rojbin  Fidan Dogan a été la première personne à m’avoir parlé de la question kurde.  Elle était la joie de vivre personnifiée. Je n’oublierai jamais son sourire.  Toute ma solidarité et ma compassion va aux familles des victimes”, affirme Marie-Christine VERGIAT, députée européenne française  du GUE/NGL (Front de Gauche).”Les Kurdes Continue reading “GUE/NGL Group of the European Parliament condemns the assassination of three Kurdish activists in Paris” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Kurdish Women, Peace process

Three Kurdish women politicians assassinated in Paris

We are shocked and saddened by the news of the assassination of three Kurdish women politicians in Paris. We send condolences and our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez, and to the Kurdish community for their loss. We will continue to monitor developments and statements on the incident will be out soon.

Emergency actions

Please note there will be a rally outside the Turkish Embassy in London (43 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PA), tomorrow at 1pm.
Another demonstration will be held at the Halkevi Community Centre (Dalston Lane, London E8 3DF), on Saturday 12 January, at 12pm.
Please come along to show your support. For further information contacts Kurdish Federation: fedbir@gmail.com Continue reading “Three Kurdish women politicians assassinated in Paris” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community, Peace process, Political prisoners

Leading Kurdish Activist Arrested in Paris

Translated from Turkish original, London

ANF 12:41 / 10 Ekim 2012 Paris

KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) member, Adem Uzun, has been remanded in custody in France after appearing court following his arrest in Paris.

The KNK condemned the action against Mr Uzun and explained in a statement that Uzun was in Paris to take part in the preparations for a conference on West Kurdistan (Syrian Kurdistan), which was scheduled to take place on 13 October. Continue reading “Leading Kurdish Activist Arrested in Paris” →