Freedom of expression, KCK trials, Kurdish community, Kurdish language rights, Political prisoners

2,000 march in support of Kurdish hunger strikers

By Paul Burnham

On Sunday, 11th November, more than 2,000 Kurds marched five miles across North London in solidarity with the Kurdish hunger strikes in Turkish prisons, which have reached their 61st day. The hunger strikes are reaching a critical stage, and some hunger strikers may be near death.

The 680 hunger strikers include elected representatives who have been jailed under the repressive policies of Turkish Prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They are demanding Kurdish language rights, and the end of the isolation in jail of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), to help to negotiate a political settlement to the Kurdish Question. Other Kurds have joined the strike by refusing food in solidarity, including MPs belonging to the pro-Kurdish BDP (peace and democracy) party. Continue reading “2,000 march in support of Kurdish hunger strikers” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish language rights, Peace process, Political prisoners

IN THE GLASSHOUSE, by Norman Paech

NATO-member Turkey supports the rebels in Syria – yet persecutes the opposition movement in its own country

Norman Paech

 

Turkey is in a complex situation, which the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his AKP government, seem to want to cover up. The incontestable economic successes – whereby the completely under-developed rights of the working population have been accepted – make the country a power factor between East and West. The strategic location of Turkey for the transportation of oil and gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East into Europe provides the ever-assertive government with a comfortable negotiating position with the Europeans. This clearly allows Ankara to bring EU-membership into play without having to compromise on the biggest obstacle to its membership so far – the unresolved Cyprus question. Greece is weak and is having its sovereignty rapidly taken away, almost degraded to a protectorate. Why back down against the EU and the UN, when, evidently, a politics of “banging one’s fist on the table” is the only one honoured? This is also apparent in the fact that Erdogan can afford to pick a fight with a state, with which it not so long ago had a distinguished relationship – Israel, the EU’s most controversial protegé. Continue reading “IN THE GLASSHOUSE, by Norman Paech” →

Kurdish community, Political prisoners

Kurdish political activists begin hunger strike in London

View a statement on the hunger strike by Kurdish Federation UK: London hunger strike activists state their demands

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

12.3.12

Several Kurdish activists in London will begin a five-day hunger strike Wednesday 14 March at 8am, in protest against increasing repression in Turkey. Continue reading “Kurdish political activists begin hunger strike in London” →

Kurdish community

Join a delegation to celebrate Newroz festival!

INVITATION: Celebrate Newroz festival on 21 March in Diyarbakir – join the Newroz delegations 19-25 March 2012

Solidarity with the opposition in Turkey, that is the real strength of democracy!

“EZ JÎ LI VIRIM!” (I AM HERE TOO!)

 23 February 2012

We invite you to join the 2012 Newroz celebrations between 19 – 25 March, and to participate in the main Newroz event on 21 March in Amed (Diyarbakir), organised by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). An invitation from BDP Vice Co-Chairperson and Foreign Relations Commission Chair Nazmi Gur is attached, along with a registration form for seats at the covered grandstand on 21 March. Continue reading “Join a delegation to celebrate Newroz festival!” →

Conflict resolution, Freedom of expression, KCK trials, Kurdish language rights, Kurdish Women, Peace process, Political prisoners, War crimes

Dossier: Stop the political genocide and femicide against the Kurds in Turkey!

The following is a dossier produced by CENI Kurdish Women’s Office for Peace and the KNK, which provides a useful account of recent developments in Turkey, the actions of an increasingly repressive AKP government and the role and significance of Abdullah Ocalan’s arrest and continued imprisonment for a solution to the Kurdish Question. You can download the dossier here (pdf).

February 2012

Dossier

Stop the political genocide and femicide against the Kurds in Turkey!

Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan!

Contents

1. Political Genocide and Femicide – the AKP Regime

Continue reading “Dossier: Stop the political genocide and femicide against the Kurds in Turkey!” →

Kurdish community, War crimes

Protesters carry 34 coffins to Turkish Embassy in memory of Uludere victims

Yesterday, 8 February 2012, the Kurdish Community in London held a march to commemorate the 40th day of mourning for the 34 Kurdish civilians killed in a bombardment by Turkish fighter jets on 28 December 2011. The marchers carried 34 symbolic coffins from Amnesty International to the Turkish Embassy, where officials secretly filmed the protesters from inside the building. The peaceful demonstration was organised by several Kurdish community centres in London and attended nearly 200 people. You can read the original statement about the march below:

Continue reading “Protesters carry 34 coffins to Turkish Embassy in memory of Uludere victims” →

Kurdish community, Political prisoners

Jeremy Corbyn MP joins UK lawyers protest at the Turkish Embassy

PRESS RELEASE:
24th January – International Day of Solidarity with Lawyers in Turkey
12-1pm 43 Belgrave Square, SW 1

The day of action on 24th January, which saw simultaneous actions by lawyers taking place in major cities across Europe, was marked in London with a protest outside the Turkish Embassy, and organised by CAMPACC and Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, to highlight the intolerable conditions faced by lawyers in Turkey. Continue reading “Jeremy Corbyn MP joins UK lawyers protest at the Turkish Embassy” →

Kurdish community

The Ay family, Kurdish refugees from Turkey, win six-figure payout from the Home Office eight years after childhood ordeal

Child asylum seekers win compensation for 13-month detention

Diane Taylor and Simon Hattenstone, guardian.co.uk,
Friday 6 January 2012

Four children who were incarcerated in detention centres for 13 months – the longest time children have ever been locked up in the UK – have won a six-figure compensation payout from the Home Office more than eight years after their release. Continue reading “The Ay family, Kurdish refugees from Turkey, win six-figure payout from the Home Office eight years after childhood ordeal” →