Conflict resolution

Vasiliki Scurfield addresses Newroz reception in Parliament

The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) held an event in parliament on 17 March, to celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year. The event was hosted by MP Mike Gapes. The speakers were Vasiliki Scurfield, the mother of Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, Michelle Allison, KNK UK women’s representative, Dr Alan Semo, PYD UK representative, and Dr Mohamed Kanyany, former KRG MP.

by Sofia Beatty

newroz parliament_vsAddressing a packed meeting in the House of Commons, Aysegul Erdogan, chairing, welcomed the speakers, with a special thanks to Vasiliki Scurfield, the mother of Konstandinos Scurfield, the ex-Royal Marine who died fighting with the YPG for the liberation of the Kurdish people. This year, said Aysegul, Newroz “takes on added significance, as this is the first Newroz since the victory of the Kurdish forces, the YPG and YPJ in Kobani, Rojava. This year, the fire of Newroz burns brighter than before. Newroz, for us Kurdish people, has a different meaning. To us, it means light over darkness, freedom over oppression, peace over war.” She praised the Kurdish spirit of resistance in the face genocidal acts against the Kurdish people, such as at Halabja. Continue reading “Vasiliki Scurfield addresses Newroz reception in Parliament” →

Conflict resolution

PYD: We have a common responsibility to prevent another genocide

We received this appeal from the Democratic Union party (PYD) representation in Europe, which calls on the international community to support YPG, YPJ and other defence forces as they resist the latest ISIS onslaught in the Til Hemis and Til Birak regions of Syria. 

An appeal to the international community

We have a common responsibility to prevent another genocide

It started with Kobane and Sinjar, and now we are witnessing the same developments in Til Temir, Serê Kanî and Al Hasaka. Since February 22th, these areas have come under a brutal and barbaric assault by the Islamic State. Triggered by their setbacks in Kobane, Til Hemis and Til Birak, the terrorists have launched a major terrorist campaign. No one has been spared, including women, children and so-called ”apostates”. Once again we have witnessed the horrendous enslavement of women by the hands of the terrorists, beheadings of innocent civilians and the destruction of churches and mosques. The tragic fate of our 300 kidnapped Christian’s brothers and sisters is sadly still unknown. Continue reading “PYD: We have a common responsibility to prevent another genocide” →

Conflict resolution

Victory in Kobane: What next for the Rojava Revolution?

“ ‘The victory of capitalism is in its ability to capture the mind.’ Whereas a hundred years ago, if you were poor you would rebel; now if you are poor, you dream of winning the lottery.”

Quoting PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan at the most recent Peace in Kurdistan Campaign/Roj Women event at SOAS University, Havin Guneser of the International Initiative – Freedom for Ocalan Campaign gave a rich exploration of how one of the world’s most vibrant contemporary anti-capitalist rebellions led not only to victory in Kobane following a devastating 6-month siege by ISIS, but the development of a genuine social revolution. As Guneser explained, it was that social revolution, now embedded in the personal lives and working institutions of the people living in Rojava, that ultimately ensured that Kobane had the strength to fight off ISIS attacks. Continue reading “Victory in Kobane: What next for the Rojava Revolution?” →

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community

Victory in Kobane: What next in the Rojava Revolution?

victory in kobane

DATE/TIME:
Sunday 22 February, 3-5pm

VENUE:
Djam Lecture Theatre (DLT), Main Building, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Speakers:
Havin Guneser, spokesperson of the International Initiative – Freedom for Ocalan
David Graeber. anthropologist, author and political activist

Chair:
Margaret Owen, barrister and patron of Peace in Kurdistan Campaign Continue reading “Victory in Kobane: What next in the Rojava Revolution?” →

Conflict resolution

Asya Abdullah from Kobanê: Myth of the invincibility of ISIS collapses

After the People’s Defence Units (YPG) and the Women’s Defence Units (YPJ) had put a stop to the attacks of IS (the Islamic State) on Kobani, which had gone on since the 15th September 2014 and had been able to push the IS back on most fronts, the YPG explained that the complete liberation of Kobani would soon follow.


“Victory will be announced shortly”

Mazlum Kobanê, YPG commander on the eastern front, told ANF newsagency that in the YPG/YPJ operation of liberation which began on 23rd January, Sukulhal, Seyda Cami and Seyda streets were cleared, and the IS forces in the Kaniya Kurda area were pushed back: “The IS forces now only hold four places in this area. If our forces push forwards successfully on these four roads, the eastern front will be completely cleared and we can announce the victory of our heroic struggle against the IS in Kobanî to all our people”. Continue reading “Asya Abdullah from Kobanê: Myth of the invincibility of ISIS collapses” →

Conflict resolution

“Inside Kobane” – BBC World News documentary

This is fascinating and personal documentary about the lives of fighters inside Kobane, made by BBC World News. The documentary description reads, “The Kurdish border city of Kobane in Northern Syria has been under siege by Islamic State fighters for more than three months. But Kurdish forces are managing to retain hold of most of the city. As well as keeping IS at bay, they see getting their story out to the rest of the world as a vital part of their mission. An Iranian Kurdish film-maker spent a few days inside Kobane following the men and women risking their lives to publicise the ongoing battle.”

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kmra-PBS0I]

Conflict resolution

Memed Aksoy speaks at Assata Shakur event in London

Kurdish activist Memed Aksoy was recently invited by the Tri-Continental Anti-Imperialist Platform to speak on the Rojava revolution and the historic resistance of the Kurdish people in Kobane. The inspiring event was dedicated to the life and works of Assata Shakur and featured contributions from Black Panther activists and spoken word artists. You can watch Memed’s presentation at the event below, and videos of the whole event can be viewed here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-vq-_H0D58]

Conflict resolution

Kurdish activist speaks at Tri-continental Anti-imperialist Platform event

The Tricontinental Anti-imperialist Platform held an event at Housemans in central London recently entitled Global Resistance: From Ferguson to People’s Korea. Activist and member of the Kurdish Student Union and People’s Assembly, Elif Sarican, took part in the event, which connected resistance struggles from across the world, on the place of the Kurdish struggle in the borader movement against colonialism and imperialism. You can watch the video of her presentation below, and you can find the full playlist of all speakers from the evening here.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcsvsgYkqwo]

Conflict resolution, Kurdish community

Discussion with UK Delegation to Suruc, Turkey, on the Syrian border

The Kurdish Community Centre is hosting an afternoon of events this Saturday, starting with a discussion with Peace in Kurdistan Campaign’s recent delegates to the border region. All welcome!


Venue:  Kurdish Community Centre,  Fairfax Hall,  11 Portland Gardens, London N4 1HU

At 4:30pm on Saturday, 29th November 2014
Kobane is still under severe attack by ISIS. Over 50,000 people have been forced to flee Kobane as refugees to Suruc, in the Kurdish province of Urfa city of Turkey. Suruc sits just across the border from Kobane, separated by an arbitrary line that divides Kurdistan into four. Kobane refugees in Suruc have limited food and unsuitable shelter, and are patiently waiting for the end of this brutal war in order to go back to their homeland. Continue reading “Discussion with UK Delegation to Suruc, Turkey, on the Syrian border” →

Conflict resolution

Health workers in Kurdistan harassed by Turkish police for treating refugees from Kobane

By Stephen Smellie, UNISON South Lanarkshire who just returned from a visit to Kurdistan and Kobane. You can read more of his observations during his recent trip to North Kurdistan here.

5 November 2014

Police officers have kicked in the doors of a rehabilitation facility providing services to injured refugees from the ISIS attack on Kobane. Refugees were manhandled and verbally abused while health staff, working in a voluntary basis, were abused and told they should stop treating the refugees.

Selma Atabey is a nurse working at a large public hospital in Diyarbakir and co-president of the city’s branch of health workers union SES. Continue reading “Health workers in Kurdistan harassed by Turkish police for treating refugees from Kobane” →