Thousands participated in a protest march to the Kobanê border in the Suruç district of Urfa on Friday under the slogan “Bijî berxwedana Rojava” (Long live the resistance of Rojava). The march was organised as part of the vigil action held in the district for 12 days against attacks by the Turkish state and allied SNA mercenaries against North-East Syria.

A number of people, including the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Co-Chair Murat Çepni as well as representatives of political parties and civil society organisations from many cities of Kurdistan, gathered in the town of Aligor before the launch of the march to the border.

The demonstrators got out of their vehicles and walked on foot following a series of obstructions by the gendarmerie (military police), including identity checks and barricades on the way. The demonstrators marched to the exit point of the town and made statements.

Speaking on behalf of the Kurdistan Communist Party, DEM Party MP Sinan Çiftyürek said, “We thank all our people. Those in power have not learned lessons from history. We call out to the invaders from here. The resisting Rojava people will not bow down. How can they surrender their weapons to the Damascus government when there are such intense attacks against Rojava? Have you recognised the status of the Kurdish people? No. They should know very well that the unitary, monist, statist structure went with Assad. No people accept this structure anymore. Those who insist should look back to the will of the people. The people of Rojava gained status through their own struggle. The Damascus administration should recognise this status. If we are united, we will defend the Autonomous Administration. But if we are not united, we will be defeated. The occupying states unite in line with their own interests. Then why can't we unite for our own gains?”

Mehmet Kamaç, Central Executive Board member of the Human and Freedom Party, said: “Just as the Kurds were divided into four parts years ago, the same thing is intended to be done again. However, all these people are flowing to the border today in the spirit of 2014. Today is the day of unity for Kurds, just like in 2014. Today is the day of unity and defence of Kobanê, the heart of Kurdistan. Once again, we are calling out from Suruç. 60 million people cannot remain without status in the Middle East. Those 60 million Kurds have not bowed down and will not. We appeal to all world organisations to oppose these attacks and protect our interests.”

Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Islamic Congress (DIK), religious scholar Dünayser Mendelkani said, “Rojava is the home of free life. We condemn the massacres against the Kurds and Alevis in Rojava. We appeal to religious scholars and elders. The unity of the Kurdish people is essential for the protection of Rojava. We appeal to the Arab and Kurdish people and religious people. Those who commit these massacres have a Pharaoh mentality. It is obligatory to fight against them. It is obligatory to protect the democratic life in Rojava.”

The crowd then moved to the Suruç district and marched to the border with Kobanê. The march was followed by statements by the politicians taking part in the protest action.

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar stated that the Kurdish people and their friends met in the march with the same feelings and enthusiasm: “The demands of the Kurdish people need to be addressed today. Mr Öcalan's message is being discussed because the position of the Kurdish people in this geography is known. Rojava is misrepresented to the people of Turkey. Let them listen to the resisting Kurdish people. There is a window of freedom opening from Rojava. There is a life manifesto written by women there. The biggest enemy is those who block the road to peace. The solidarity here today eliminates borders and has turned the borders of nation states upside down.”

Uçar stated that no one can put limits on their resistance and said, “We have to protect the status that emerged in Rojava. They unleashed SNA mercenaries on Rojava. We did not accept this, and we will not. Not only us, but the whole world owes Rojava and the Kurds. No one should act by emulating ISIS. We are here today for a solution both to the Kurdish question and the democracy problem in Turkey. In Syria, massacres are being committed against peoples of different races. The Kurdish people take Mr Öcalan as a basis. Turkey's approach to Rojava is an approach to the Kurdish people as a whole. Our solidarity with the people of Rojava will not end.”

Speaking after, DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları stated the following: “No understanding that ignores the Kurdish people and Arab Alevis can establish its presence in Syria. We staged a march to convey our solidarity feelings and messages to Kobanê. As long as the threats against Kobanê and Northern and Eastern Syria continue, our solidarity as brothers and sisters of the Kurdish people in Turkey, democracy forces and the peoples of Turkey will continue until the end. The Kurdish people have de facto gained their status in Rojava since the 2011 war. They have established an Autonomous Administration in Northern and Eastern Syria. The whole world should know this, and I call out to the people of Turkey; Rojava is not a region as the mainstream media and the palace media describe it. Rojava is a geography where women are included in the administration, where the system of co-presidency and equal representation exists. A social contract that recognises peoples and beliefs is implemented there. It has organised a strong struggle against ISIS, al-Nusra, al-Qaeda and their derivatives.

As you have all followed with great excitement, a delegation of our party has met with Mr Öcalan in İmralı. Our delegation sends you the greetings of Mr Abdullah Öcalan, who is under severe isolation in İmralı. Following the 7-point declaration, the DEM Party Imrali Delegation started talks with the political parties represented in the parliament. Yesterday, it held talks with the Speaker of the Parliament and the MHP. As of Monday, they will hold talks with other political parties. After that, our delegation will make a substantial and comprehensive statement.

We know very well that the message from İmralı is a message of peace and solution. We will follow this process with great excitement and hope. Of course, the honourable struggle of the Kurdish people for more than 40 years, not only in Rojava but also in 4 parts of Kurdistan, has brought us to this day. The latest meeting in İmralı has taken place thanks to the resistance and perseverance of our people. We should never give up our struggle until the process in Rojava is clarified and until we reach a certain point in the Imrali talks. We owe a lot to you, our people, and in particular the valuable mothers. If you continue your actions on the streets, squares and democratic grounds, this process will be crowned with success."

Hatimoğulları also paid tribute to Kurdish journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin who were killed by a Turkish drone strike in Rojava.

“We have come to this day by struggling with great patience, fortitude, strength, hope and faith in all four parts of Turkey and Kurdistan. Today, both in Turkey and in the Middle East, there is no other option but to crown the process with peace and solution. While Mr Öcalan is working intensively on this option in İmralı, we will continue our struggle on democratic ground with you, our valuable people,” she added.