UK

Internationalists in Sheffield express their solidarity with Rojava Kurds

A demonstration for Rojava took place in Sheffield.


ANF
SHEFFIELD
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 09:12

Internationalists gathered outside Sheffield Train Station, to demonstrate their solidarity with the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

Two internationalists spoke about the recent police raids against the Kurdish community in London, and the attacks on the Autonomous Administration. This was followed by a solidarity statement from a local councilor, condemning the role of the British and Turkish states.

Internationals express their solidarity with friends on hunger strike in London, and demand the release of all our Kurdish political prisoners.

Those that came to the demonstration made their way to the local community centre to discuss further the political situation.


The internationalists said: "We believe there has to be internationalism in a globally connected world, to hold systems of power to account, and condemn the impunity of nation-state actors.

To build societal strength, we cannot stay silent. Our silence allows state violence.

The Kurdish Freedom Movement at its heart is the work of collaborating international revolutionaries from Turkey. They were proud traitors of their national identity, they were able to critically look at their political situation, and realise true democratic organising must be without nation state borders."

The internationalists added: "Those of us born under British State rule, want to declare 'not in our name!'; these acts of violence against Kurdish people are not new. We see the truth behind British state intervention and rule across the globe and throughout history. We attest the outrageous division of the Middle East by hegemonic state powers following the First World War.

Nation-states to this day greedily grasp the Middle East, intentionally causing violent chaos and displacement for their own interests."

The internationalists reminded that "in November 2014, millions of people around the world took to the streets to express their solidarity with the resistance against ISIS. This time has come again, and it is our responsibility as internationals, to understand the unfolding situation, and to not compromise on truth due to complexity.

We as internationalists are following the progression of the Autonomous Administration in North East Syria, as we grapple with the idea of freedom, autonomy and women's liberation in our context."

The internationalists said: "We demand the freedom of all Kurdish political prisoners but especially the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been in isolation since 1999.

We believe that the Autonomous Administration will play an important role in the democratic future of Syria."