Switzerland Kurdish Women’s Movement organized a protest in front of the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in Geneva yesterday as the 33rd Human Right Session of the UN Human Rights High Commission continues. HDP Şırnak Parliamentarian Faysal Sarıyıldız addressed the participants of the protest that was organized against the Turkish state’s policies in Kurdistan and demand the UN to take action.

Protestors criticized the UN’s breach of its own human rights convention and carried signs that said “What is the UN saying in there? There’s genocide in Kurdistan. No women’s rights, no children’s rights. Sur and Cizre destroyed, what are you still talking about? Turkey must be prosecuted.” Protestors also chanted slogans such as “Sur was destroyed under UNESCO protection, the UN is quiet”, “Kurdish children massacred, where is UNICEF?,” “Kurdish women are slaughtered, where is the UN women’s rights convention?,” “Why is the fascist and genocidal Turkish state still a member of the UN?,” “UN, take action” and “Terrorist Turkey.”

HDP Şırnak parliamentarian Faysal Sarıyıldız had spoken during the 33rd Human Rights Session of the UN Human Rights High Commission the day before about Cizre massacre, and called upon the UN to fulfill its duty during his address to the protestors yesterday. Sarıyıldız noted that state savagery and the great resistance against this savagery was taking place in Kurdistan simultaneously today, and emphasized that Kurdish people stood tall in the face of the massacres that target them.

‘KURDS ARE DEFENDING THE VALUES OF HUMANITY IN KURDISTAN, WHAT ABOUT YOU?’

Sarıyıldız underlined that Kurdish people were defending the values of humanity in the Middle East today, making sacrifices to protect the world from ISIS and resisting against the policy of denial that has targeted them over the past century. He emphasized the world of the role of the world-system and sovereign powers in the massacres that target Kurdish people, who continue to suffer under the rule of 4 different states. The HDP parliamentarian noted that a spirit of resistance was born out of 40 years of resistance, and Kurds continue to defend the values of humanity in Rojava, Northern Kurdistan, and the Middle East at large.

Sarıyıldız stated that peoples of the world are in awe of Kurdish people, Rojava and Öcalan, and know very well that Kurds defend the values of humanity despite different states’ on-going policies of denial in order to further their interests.

‘TURKEY COULD NOT HAVE ENTERED SYRIA WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE UN’

Sarıyıldız sharply criticized Turkey’s occupation of Syrian land, and said that Turkey’s recent occupation of North Syria aimed to protect ISIS. The HDP parliamentarian highlighted that Turkey could not have entered Syria without the approval of the US, Russia and the UN, who prevented ISIS from being destroyed with their approval.

‘ISOLATION MUST END IMMEDIATELY’

Sarıyıldız brought attention to the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, and said that only Öcalan’s ideas could end the crisis in the Middle East. Sarıyıldız called upon international powers to take action against Turkey’s isolation of Öcalan, and underlined that policies that protect Turkey would only worsen the conflict in the region.

‘WE ARE READY TO GIVE ALL DOCUMENTS ON CİZRE MASSACRE TO THE UN’

HDP Şırnak parliamentarian Sarıyıldız called upon the UN regarding Cizre massare, and noted that they were ready to give all documents on how hundreds of civilians were burnt alive to the UN. Lastly, Sarıyıldız stated that the values of humanity were burnt as well as the bodies of civilians in Cizre, and called upon UN officials to fulfill their duty on this matter.