Kurds in London are protesting against the decision by Eutelsat to suspend broadcasts by RojTV. Kurds gathered outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge.

In its press release the Kurdish Federation UK says "Eutelsat has attempted to justify its action by claiming that the move is an inevitable response to the Danish Court ruling earlier this month and that it wants to avoid being “an accomplice to terrorist activities”.

But the Danish court only fined Roj TV for alleged links with the PKK; it stopped short of revoking its license and allowed it to continue broadcasting. Roj TV is also strongly contesting the Danish court’s decision and is currently appealing against the ruling. Eutelsat has therefore taken a decision that goes much further by taking Roj TV off the air".

The decision by Eutelsat, adds the statement, "can only be seen as a partisan one that favours Turkey and discriminates against the Kurds. Turkey, as everyone must be well aware, has been waging a never ending campaign against Roj TV in order to suppress this independent voice of the Kurdish people and prevent the Kurdish perspective on what is going on inside Turkey from reaching a wider audience".

The action by Eutelsat pre-empts the outcome of Roj TV’s appeal and "can only be condemned as provocative".