German NGOs Aktion Dritte Welt Saar (Action Third World) and Saarland Refugee Council have launched a new campaign on International Human Rights Day (10 December) with the motto “People from civil society show their faces for civil rights and the lifting of the PKK ban”.

The two NGOs state that: "There are many reasons for abolishing the PKK ban. That's why we asked people from civil society and collected their reasons, which we now publish every 5 days on our facebook pages," explained Gertrud Selzer from the board of Aktion 3. Welt Saar.

The press release of the campaign says that:

"The PKK ban of 1993 has existential consequences for many Kurds in this country, which go as far as refusal of naturalization or non-renewal of residence permits. There are permanent investigation and court proceedings, which can lead to convictions and even prison sentences. What is necessary in Germany is domestic disarmament and an end to the policy of criminalisation of the Kurds, as we are currently witnessing in the Kurdish demonstrations.”

“With this campaign, we would like to encourage others to also participate with their faces and a corresponding statement against the undemocratic PKK ban", says Peter Nobert from the board of the Saarland Refugee Council.

"The denial of civil rights and the criminalisation of activities that are an integral part of democratic culture and opinion-forming help the Islamist Erdogan regime". The time is ripe for a re-evaluation of the PKK. The fact that the Saarlanders could visit their Christmas markets without fear is also due to the successful repression of the Islamic State (ISIS) by the PKK and the self-defence units (YPG/YPJ) associated with it in Syria.

Those wishing to join the campaign are asked to send their comments with a photo to [email protected]