Turkish invasion of Afrin protested in Europe

Kurds and their political friends and supporters took to the streets in Europe on 26 May Global Day of Action against Turkish invasion of Afrin and invasion attempts against Rojava and southern Kurdistan, northern Iraq.

Demonstrations held across Europe on 26 May Global Day of Action against Turkish invasion of Afrin called for invading Turkish troops and allied gangs to withdraw from Afrin immediately.

MELBOURNE

In Melbourne, Australia, Kurds and Australian socialists condemned the invasion of Afrin and silence of the world in a demonstration organised by Victoria Democratic Kurdish Society Center.

Speaking here, Professor John Tully from the University of Victoria Political Science Department said they watched in shame how the Australian government and NATO condemned the aggression against Ghouta but turned a blind eye to the massacre in Afrin.

Philippine Workers’ Party International Secretary Reina Mohideen said they were reviewing Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s Democratic Autonomy Project, remarking that the current government leader of the Philippines, Duderte and Turkish President Erdoğan were quite similar.

Speaking on behalf of the Socialist Party, Sue Bolton likened the fate of Kurdish and Palestinian peoples to each other.

The demonstration ended with slogans “Turkey out of Afrin”, “Don’t remain silent on the massacre in Afrin”.

BERLIN

German capital city Berlin also hosted a demonstration against the invasion of Afrin, organised by Berlin NAV-DEM, DESTDAN Berlin Women’s Assembly and PYD Berlin branch. During the protest action at Alexanderplatz, demonstrators displayed shoes representing the civilians massacred by Turkish state forces in Afrin, and opened banners calling for an end to Erdoğan fascism and solidarity with Afrin and Rojava.

Demonstrators also chanted slogans “Long Live the resistance of Afrin”, “German panzers out of Kurdistan”, “Erdoğan is a fascist murderer”, “Long live revolutionary solidarity” and “Terrorist Erdoğan”.

Protesters pointed out that armed forces of fascist AKP/Erdoğan and jihadist mercenaries continued committing massacres and looting following the invasion in Afrin in an attempt to change the demography of the region. Condemning Germany, UN, EU and coalition members for “complicity in the invasion”, they called on the world to stand with Afrin.

BRAUNSCHWEIG

Also in Braunschweig city of Lower Saxony state, people took to the streets in protest at the invasion of Afrin. The demonstration organized by NAV-DEM, HDK, SOLID, SOLPARTİ, ANTIFA and Kurdistan Friendship Group of Braunschweig, was attended by Kurds and their political supporters.

The demo started with a minute of silence in memory of martyrs of revolution and continued with a march, during which the mass carried flags of TJK-E, Marxist Leninist German Party, Antifa, HDK, HDP and TEV-DEM. Participants of the action handed out leaflets in German informing about the situation in Afrin, chanting “Long live the resistance of Afrin”, “Terrorist Turkey” and “Terrorist Erdoğan”.

NURNBERG

In the German city of Nurnberg, hundreds gathered for a demonstration in protest against Turkey’s invasion of Afrin and in solidarity with the HDP.

Speakers remarked that the AKP regime is destroying all democratic rights by resorting to any method possible in order to remain in power, and vowed to make every effort in order for the HDP to achieve victory in June 24 elections.

Stressing that the Turkish state is committing a crime against humanity in Afrin and mentioning the crimes committed by the invaders in the canton- including abducting, harassment and rape- speakers called for an urgent end to the Turkish invasion.

BERN

In Bern, capital city of Switzerland, thousands attended a demonstration organised by Revolutionary Youth’s Union (YCS) at Reitschule Square. The mass then marched to the Hinten dem Kornhaus area.

During the following rally, speeches were held on behalf of CDK-S, PYD, YCS, HDK, RJG (Swiss Pro-Alternative Youth) in German language, followed by speeches by Greens Party Bern Canton MP Haşim Sancar, Sur co-mayor Fatma Şık Barut, human rights activist Maya Hoffman and a representative for Afrin-Rojava Resistance Platform.

Speakers called for an end to the aggravated isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, withdrawal of Turkish forces and allied mercenaries from Afrin, and intervention by international powers against the inhumane practices perpetrated in Afrin.

Speakers also called on people to vote for the HDP and Demirtaş at June 24 elections.

INNSBRUCK

In Graz and Innsbruck cities of Austria, Kurds and their friends protested against the Turkish invasion of Kurdistan lands.

Demonstrators displayed images from the massacres committed by Turkish forces in Afrin, calling for an immediate end to Turkish atrocities and voicing solidarity with the people of Afrin and their struggle.

LIEGE

In Liege city of Belgium, a demonstration in solidarity with Afrin was held at Place Saint Etienne. Protesters handed out leaflets informing about the genocidal attacks and inhumane practices committed by Turkish forces and mercenaries in Afrin.

ATHENS

Greek capital city Athens also hosted a demonstration against Turkish invasion of Afrin with the participation of Kurds, representatives fom TJK-E, European Youth, PYD, socialist organisations and Greek movements.

Hundreds gathered at the Academia Square with flags of PYD, YPG/YPJ, TJK-E and posters of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Demonstrators made a statement to the press in front of the Turkish Consulate, which stressed that the fascist Turkish state’s attacks against Afrin did never intimidate the Kurdish people, and that Afrin will be liberated just like Kobanê.

Referring to Saturday’s bloody attack against the Kurds on the Greek Island of Lesbos, which left 7 Kurds injured, speakers said this provocation by fascists was aimed at creating a conflict among the Kurds and Arabs there.

WASHINGTON, DC

Demonstrators gathered at the White House in Washington, DC to commemorate the International Day of Action Against the Invasion of Afrin. They called on all people to stand in solidarity with Afrin's resistance and to take action to pressure the U.S. government to stop Turkish atrocities.

Their statement read as follows:

"On January 20th, the Turkish state and its jihadist mercenaries began their attacks on Afrin, a peaceful and democratic region of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. In the following months, they displaced hundreds of thousands of people, murdered and kidnapped civilians, moved the families of terrorists into stolen Kurdish, Christian, and Ezidi homes, destroyed cultural heritage and symbols, and replaced Afrin’s democracy with a fascist occupying administration.

We ask all people to join us in condemning these crimes and showing solidarity with the people of Afrin and their resistance. We also ask the US government to break its silence, to condemn the invasion in the strongest terms, and to take action."