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

There will also be a mass demonstration in Paris to protest these killings. It will take place on Saturday 12 January at 12pm, Place de la Bastille, Paris.

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Three PKK members killed in Paris attack
10 January 2013 / Hurriyet
An office of the Kurdistan Information Center in Paris was attacked by unknown people in the French capital Paris late yesterday, resulting in the deaths of three women, including one of the founders of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Sakine Cansız, one of the PKK founders in 1978, Brussels-based Kurdistan National Congress’ (KNK) Paris representative Fidan Doğan, and Leyla Söylemez were found dead in the office, located near Gare du Nord station.

3 Female Kurdish Politicians Found Dead in Paris
10 January 2013 / Bianet
Last night, 3 Kurdish female politicians–PKK co-founder Sakine Cansız, Kurdish National Congress Paris representative Fidan Doğan and Leyla Söylemez–were found dead at the Kurdish Information Office in Paris. The three women were allegedly murdered by a group of individuals who raided the office, Firat News Agency said.
Rumors say that Cansız and Doğan were shot dead with a bullet in the head while Söylemez died due to a gun wound in the belly. Murders were said to be orchestrated with gun silencers. “We didn’t hear from Fidan Doğan for hours. So we headed to the office after midnight around 1am. There were traces of blood by the entrance. We broke in and found them dead,” Selma Akkaya from Özgür Politika newspaper said.

Paris attack draws reactions
10 January 2013 / Hurriyet
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls has described the attack at the office of the Kurdistan Information Center in Paris, which resulted in the death of three women, as “insupportable.” French authorities are determined to uncover the truth in this case,” Valls said during his visit to the crime scene this morning. Valls offered his condolescences to the families of the three victims. “Three women have been shot down, killed, without doubt executed. This is a very serious incident, which is why I am here. It is completely unacceptable,” he told reporters, AFP has reported.