Solidarity Statement of the Indian Workers’ Association of Great Britain, condemning the Turkish Invasion of the Kurdish town of Afrin, Northern Syria

Dear Comrades and friends,

On this day of Nawroz, we, at the Indian Workers’ Association (Central Organising Committee) extend our solidarity to the Kurdish people who are fighting for their right to self-determination. We condemn the barbaric invasion of Afrin and other Kurdish areas by the Turkish State. We condemn the looting and ethnic cleansing of the Kurdish population in and around Afrin town being conducted by the Turkish State in deliberate collusion with the Jihadi forces such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, subsequent to the tactical withdrawal of the YPG and YPJ. We condemn the killings of hundreds of innocent civilians including women and children by the Turkish Army and the Jihadists. We at the IWA hail the heroic resistance to the Turkish and ISIS invasion by the Kurdish people under the leadership of YPG and YPJ. We salute thousands of Kurdish martyrs, who laid down their invaluable lives for the cause of Kurdish national liberation in Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. We would like to remind you all that we the IWA marched in the streets of London along with the Kurdish people in solidarity, when ISIS was attacking Kobane.

NEWROZ Celebrations 2018

Despite all the horror of the events of Afrin this weekend the Kurds  renewed their determination  to mark this unique occasion, giving collective public expression to their heritage and culture. The resistance of the Kurds is the resistance of humanity. Long live the grass root democracy of Rojava and the democratic confederal model!

Newroz – a time to celebrate the Kurdish people’s resistance

PEACE IN KURDISTAN CAMPAIGN
Statement 21 March 2018
Afrin may have fallen but the battle is far from over.
Almost the very first action taken by the Turkish troops and their jihadist allies as they entered the city of Afrin was to destroy the monument to Kawa, the mythical hero of the Kurdish people who embodies the heroic spirit of resistance. This destructive act was quickly followed by the scramble to loot properties carried out in full view of the world.
Against overwhelming military odds, the Kurdish defence units of the YPG and YPJ resisted valiantly the Turkish onslaught of Afrin for nearly two months. After their tactical withdrawal, the struggle will not cease for one moment. Kurdish forces will be regrouping ready to resist the continuing onslaught from the Turks and their jihadist allies.

Newroz 2017: No to Dictatorship – Yes to Peoples’ Democracy and Freedom

PEACE IN KURDISTAN CAMPAIGN

Statement, 20 March 2017

It is at a most inauspicious time that the Kurdish people everywhere are now celebrating Newroz. Embattled in Turkey and Syria in particular, the Kurds once again renew their determination during the celebrations to mark this unique occasion when they give collective public expression to their heritage and culture.

Peace in Kurdistan salutes the Kurds and their historic struggle; we offer special greetings to the Kurdish men and women engaged in the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) and those Kurds who are facing the wrath of Erdogan’s increasing dictatorial rule in Turkey, especially those languishing unjustly in Turkey’s jails.

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

Addressing 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.

Event: Newroz and the Kurdish people’s struggle for liberation

Hosted by Mike Gapes MP

 With contributions from Akin Birdal, former MP and honorary president of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD); Akif Wan, KNK UK representative; Xusrew Zeki, KNK member; Ciwan Afrin, PYD UK representative; Dr Mohamed Kanyany, former MP, KRG; representative from UCFL, tbc*

An event celebrating Newroz and the spirit of resistance

Date/time: Tuesday 17 March, 6-8pm

Venue: Committee Room 9, Portcullis House, Westminster, SW1A 0AA

NEWROZ RECEPTION IN GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY

THURSDAY 12^TH MARCH, 6-8pm Committee Room 4, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA

Hosted by Roj Women’s Association & Kurdistan National Congress Osman Baydemir (former HDP-Mayor of Diyarbakir)

We invite you to attend a reception to celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year festival. The reception will take place in Committee Room 4, City Hall-Greater London Authority on Thursday 12^th March between 6.00pm and 8.00pm and will be hosted by Roj Women’s Association and Kurdish National Congress. Food and drinks will be provided and there will also be an opportunity to enjoy traditional Kurdish music and dance.

Newroz celebrated in London

 

Thousands celebrate Newroz in London

Despite the freezing weather, thousands of members of the Kurdish community came out to celebrate Newroz, Kurdish New Year, in Finsbury Park last Sunday.

‘Free Ocalan and Status for the Kurds’ was the slogan for the day, it was chanted by the crowds and a huge banner at the front of the stage proclaimed the same message.

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Simon Hughes MP, MP for Tottenham David Lammy, and Member of the European Parliament Jean Lambert, as well as Father Joe Ryan of the Westminster Peace and Justice Commission, and representatives of the Basque, Baloch and Tamil community, all took to the stage to express their solidarity with the Kurdish struggle for peace and justice.

Photos courtesy of Fikri Isikli

EUTCC salutes the Kurdish people on Newroz 2013

22 March, 2013

Newroz 2013: Solidarity Greetings

Newroz is the traditional Kurdish festival of light and hope. It is a celebration of the coming spring unfolding after the long winter and symbolises the victory over dark oppressive forces. This year’s celebration epitomises the historical narrative of Newroz more than ever. The ongoing talks between the Turkish government and Mr. Abdullah Öcalan signal a new beginning and a brighter future for the Kurdish people and for Turkey. It became clear from Mr. Öcalan’s letter, which was read aloud at the Newroz celebration in Diyarbakir by BDP deputies Pervin Buldan and Sirri Süreyya Önder. The letter indicates that the hope and call for peace by millions of Kurdish voices are finally heard and acted upon.