Events
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign organises events and meetings as part of its political and solidarity work. You can find information on our events here, as well as related events held by other organisations from across the country.
Wednesday 12 June, 4-5.30pm
Reopening Turkey’s Kurdish Opening
A seminar given by Professor Michael M. Gunter, Tennessee Tech University and secretary of the EU Turkey Civic Commission. Discussant: Dr Zeynep Kaya, London Centre for Social Studies and LSE. Chair: Robert Lowe, LSE Middle East Centre.
Venue: Room 1.04, 20 Kingsway, London School of Economics
Tuesday 11 June, 1-3pm
Iranian Minorities: What Future After Ahmadinejad?
Through this event, UNPO in cooperation with the Nonviolent Radical Party aims at bringing attention to the human rights situation of religious and national minorities in Iran and discussing the impact that the upcoming Iranian presidential elections could mean for them and the country‘s human rights situation as a whole. The event will bring together human rights activists from minority groups in Iran, distinguished political scholars, and international experts and representatives from international organizations who will inform the audience of the present minority rights predicament in Iran. The confirmed speakers who will contribute with their expertise in this regard include: Mr. Hillel Neuer – Executive Director of the UN Watch, a human rights NGO in Geneva, Switzerland); Mr. Karim Abdian – Director of the Ahwaz Education and Human Rights Foundation; Mr. Abdollah Hejab – Representative of Iranian Kurdistan and member of UNPO Presidency; Ms. Monireh Sulemani – Representative of the Balochistan Peoples PartyMr. Taimoor Aliassi – UN Representative of the Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran – Geneva (KMMK – G).
Venue: Palais des Nations – Geneva
Saturday 8th June, 2pm
Gandhi Foundation AGM and Lecture
After the AGM from 3 – 4pm, Ruhul Abdin from Paraa will give a lecture about their work.
Paraa is a London based charitable organisation which works to develop the built environment of various communities in Bangladesh. The country is among the least developed countries with a high population density vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change. They provide expertise to various communities that will enable dwellers to maximise space usage for a better standard of living. Paraa believe in the development of a built environment that respects the cultural and traditional architecture and it’s context. There will also be a show of some of the garments and designs that have been produced as part of the Benarasi project.
Venue: Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3HJ. The event is free and everyone is welcome. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Donations are welcome on the day. Contact email: contact@gandhifoundation.org
and phone: 0845 313 8419
Tuesday 21 May, 7pm
Syria – Stop Western Military Intervention
As the civil war in Syria spreads into the wider Middle East, so the Western powers beat the drums for war. Opinion polls show the majority of the British public (and even greater majorities in Middle Eastern countries) oppose the escalation of Western intervention in Syria. On 9 May 2013 Stop the War delivered an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron to Downing Street, urging the government to end its interventionist policy. Speakers include Professor Kamal Majid, Dr Issa Chaer, Jeremy Corbyn MP and Lindsey German.
Venue: Khalili lecture theatre, SOAS, Russel Sq, London WC1H 0XG. Free admission, all are welcome. Details on the website.
Monday 20 May, 5.30pm
Cyprus: What now?
Organised by the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Conflict Issues and on Cyprus, this discussion will feature an introduction from Baroness Hussein-Ece, and will be chaired by David Burrowes MP and Lord Alderdice. Speakers include: Prf Alp Ozerdem, Chair of Peace Building at University of Coventry; Mario Epaminondas, Trustee Ass. of Historical Dialogue and research in Cyprus; Meliha Kayma, Former Consultant, The Economic Growth and Development for Enterprises Project in Cyprus .
Venue: Committee Room 11, House of Commons, Westminster SW1A 0AA. Please allow 30 minutes to go through security. RSVP to chardr@parliament.uk
Saturday 18 May, 1-5pm
Mass Rally on the 4th year: Remembrance of Mullivaikkal Genocidal Massacre
This mass rally is being held to call upon the International Community and the UN to halt the continuing genocide of the Tamils; to demand an international and independent investigation into war crimes against Tamils; to expel Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth; keep up the flames of Tamil liberation and nationalism alight in Tamil Eelam and abroad. Everyone is requested to come dressed in black.
Venue: Start – North Carriage Drivem Hyde Park, W1C 1LX (closest Tube, Marble Arch). Finish – Waterloo Place, SW1Y 4AU (closest tube, Piccadilly Circus/Charing Cross). Contacts: 07914 178769 / 07517 461685 / 07585 442960. More info here.
Thursday 16 May, 6.30pm
Memorial Rally For Emily Wilding Davison
A rally to commemorate the one hundred years since the death of militant suffragette Emily Davison, held at the church where her funeral was held in 1913. Speakers include: Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, and Shadow Attorney General
Katherine Tupper, great-great niece of Emily Wilding Davison
Lindsey German, National Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition and author of books on women’s struggles
Katherine Connelly, Emily Wilding Davison Memorial Campaign Co-ordinator and author of forthcoming biography of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst
Rosamund McNeil, National Union of Teachers’ Head of Education and Equalities
Louise Raw, historian and author of Striking a Light: The Bryant and May Matchwomen and their Place in History
Yvonne Ridley, journalist and human rights activist
Mel Whitter, Women and Equalities Officer for the London and Eastern Region of Unite the Union
Peter Barratt, great-grandson of Leicester Suffragette Alice Hawkins
Venue: St George’s Church, 6-7 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HR. More details here: http://www.counterfire.org/index.php/events/16230-emily-wilding-davison-memorial-campaign-rally-may-16
Thursday 16 May, 9-10am
Turkey’s Political and Economic Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges
In recent months, Turkey has witnessed some significant domestic developments, including a sharp economic slowdown, the launch of peace negotiations between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish state, and the constitutional drafting process appears to be heading towards stalemate. The speakers will offer their perspectives on the implications of these developments on Turkey’s stability, prosperity and security. Participants: Fadi Hakura, Associate Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House; Bahadır Kaleağası, International Coordinator, Turkish Industry and Business Association (Tüsiad), Turkey; President, Bosphorus Institute, France
Chair: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, House of Lords, UK
Venue: Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE. To attend you must register your interest here.
Wednesday 15 May 7pm
Sylvia Pankhurst – Suffragette, Socialist and Scourge of Empire
Katherine Connelly is the author of a new biography of Sylvia Pankhurst which examines her life of activism from her teens as a member of the Independent Labour Party, to her time as a leading suffragette before the First World War, through to her socialist, anti-fascist and anti-imperialist campaigns in later years. Katherine will examine Pankhurst’s unique contribution to a working class suffragette militancy and will show how her pioneering anti-imperialism shaped her whole life’s activity. Katherine is at Queen Mary where she is completing her phD on ‘Karl Marx and Parisian popular culture in the 1840s’.
Venue: Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, City of London, EC2M 4QH
Wednesday 15 May, 6.30pm
In conversation with Jeremy Scahill
Author of the New York Times bestseller Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield, will be in London to discuss his work in this event organised by Reprieve and Doughty Street Chambers. Followed by a drinks reception and book signing.
Venue: Doughty Street Chambers, 53-54 Doughty St, City of London, London, Greater London WC1N 2LS. For more info contact kat.craig@reprieve.org.uk
Friday 3 May, 4.30-5.30pm
The Kurds and the Conflict in Syria
It is nine months since Kurds took control of towns in northern Syria, having established an unprecedented coalition of Kurdish parties. Saleh Muslim Mohamed, the co-President of the most prominent Syrian Kurdish party, will assess the progress of Kurdish politics and local government and the wider Syrian and regional context. Saleh Muslim Mohamed is the Co-President of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Deputy General Coordinator of the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria (NCB) and a member of the Supreme Kurdish Council in Syria. Chair: Robert Lowe, LSE Middle East Centre.
Venue: Alumni Theatre, New Academic Building, London School of Economics (see map). This event is free and open, however registration is necessary. Please register using the online booking form.
Thursday 2 May, 6-8.30pm
Campaigning for press and media freedom in Turkey
An NUJ World Press Freedom Day Event to show the extent of the attacks on freedom of expression and the right to report, and how we can offer support and solidarity to our colleagues under attack. Speakers include: Barry Fitzpatrick Deputy General Secretary NUJ; Mehmet Koksal, European Federation of Journalists Turkey campaign coordinator and Vice President AGJPB (Belgian journalists association); Coskun Musluk (by video link-up) Academic & Columnist – METU & Oda TV. In prison 375 days from 3 March 2011 to 12 March 2012; Sean Bamford TUC Policy Officer Eastern Europe and North Africa; Jim Boumelha President International Federation of Journalists; Chair Michelle Stanistreet General Secretary NUJ.
Venue: NUJ head office, 308/312 Gray’s Inn Road, Kings Cross, London WC1. Supported by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom. Check the NUJ and CPBF web sites for updates on speakers. Please RSVP to campaigns@nuj.org.uk
