Defend Kurdistan is calling for a boycott of the Turkish national team at the European Men's Football Championship, which started on Friday. The initiative said: "No goal celebrations in the shadow of Turkish war crimes!" They justified the call "BOYCOTT TURKEY AT EURO2024!" with the support of military operations in Kurdistan by the Turkish national team.

The statement said: "When the Turkish army invaded the Kurdish city of Afrin in northwest Syria in 2018 in violation of international law, it made itself responsible for the deaths and displacement of thousands of people. In 2019, these terrible events were repeated when Turkey invaded the northern Syrian regions of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî. Since then, these areas have been controlled by the Turkish army and its jihadist partners. Murder, torture, kidnapping and rape have been part of the cruel everyday life in these regions."

The statement continued: "These wars have sparked anger and outrage almost everywhere in the world. Not so with the Turkish national team. They have publicly shown their support for the military operations and thereby revealed their nationalist and warmongering attitude.

We are convinced that sport in general and international sports competitions in particular should help bring people from all over the world together, regardless of their origin or skin colour. Racism and nationalism have no place in sport. However, the Turkish national team represents a completely different worldview. They support wars that violate international law and thereby stir up nationalism, racism and hatred among people.

That is why we are calling for a boycott and withdrawal of all support for the Turkish national team in connection with the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany."