Mass demonstrations in 7 centers around the world, starting with Geneva and Brussels, have been launched against the Turkish state invasion and massacres in Afrin. One of the demonstrations is a 5-day long sit-in launched today in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. The demonstration is organized by the Platform to Support Afrin, an umbrella for 94 institutions, and was launched with a press statement.

TEV-DEM Foreign Relations Committee member and former PYD Co-chair Saleh Moslem, European Parliament MEPs Bart Staes, Anna Miranda and Mark Demesmaeker, Belgium Green Party MP Wouter De Vriendt and representatives from institutions from Kurdistan and Turkey and Assyrian-Syriac organizations participated in the demonstration as well as a large crowd. Protesters carried photographs of children who lost their lives in the massacres and the speeches demanded Europe implement an embargo against Turkey due to the killing of civilians.

MOSLEM: “YOUR WEAPONS ARE KILLING US”

TEV-DEM Foreign Relations Committee member and former PYD Co-chair Saleh Moslem stated that what happened in Afrin is a genocide: “The genocide and massacres in Afrin are the annihilation of a people and a country. The issue is not just Afrin today, it is a matter of surviving or perishing. They say this themselves: Today Afrin, tomorrow Manbij, later on Qamishlo. They have the plan to massacre Kurds on their agenda. That is why there is no other way than resistance. That is why our people should stand against this in unity, wherever they are.”

Moslem also called on European and global powers and said: “Today the weapons used in Afrin are your weapons. They are using EU and German made weapons. Turkey is killing us with your weapons. How long will you continue to help Turkey? Enough! Yes, it’s not you that is killing us, ut your money and your weapons are. If you didn’t help him, Erdoğan could not have done all this. We demand you fulfill the requirements of NATO and EU laws.”

Moslem said hundreds of thousands of people left their homes and lands because of Turkey’s massacres and called on international aid organizations for support.

STAES: “TURKEY IS COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY”

European Parliament MEP Bart Staes condemned the Turkish state’s attacks against Afrin and said: “We condemn the massacre in Afrin. Turkey is committing a crime against humanity there. What has been done to Kurds, Arabs and other peoples in Afrin is unacceptable. I condemn the silence of European and global states. But the struggle you have waged is a great struggle. I salute this resistance. I fully believe that you will prevail. “

European Parliament MEP Mark Demesmaeker also condemned Turkey’s attacks and demanded Europe take action.

VRIENDT: “WE MUST SPEAK UP”

In his speech, Belgium Green Party MP Wouter De Vriendt harshly criticized the Turkish state’s attacks against Afrin: “In Afrin today, civilians are losing their lives and the city is being looted. Turkey is violating international law. This must be objected to. European Union countries must speak up against this.”

MIRANDA: “ERDOĞAN IS A TERRORIST”

European Parliament MEP Anna Miranda said: “Turkey is committing a crime against humanity with their attacks against Kurds. Erdoğan is a dictator and a terrorist. And European countries support this with their silence. Turkey’s attempts should be objected to at once.”

KOÇ: “EUROPE SHOULD PUT AN EMBARGO AGAINST TURKEY”

KCDK-E Co-chair Yüksel Koç stated that the Platform to Support Afrin has launched demonstrations in many centers throughout Europe and continued: “We have launched demostrations in Brussels, Geneva, Berlin, London, Oslo, Athens and various others. These demonstrations will continue until we achieve results. The people of Afrin are in a historic resistance for humanity, and we must support this. We also demand the European Union countries take action against Turkey. There should be military, economic and diplomatic sanctions. The air field of Rojava and Syria should be closed.”

ARABACI: “LET’S INCREASE THE PROTESTS”

Europe Oppressed Minorities Confederation (AvEG-Kon) Co-chair Şafak Arabacı said: “The Turkish army and jihadis are implementing a genocide in Afrin. To object to this, we as the people from Turkey and Kurdistan in Europe should hold more protests and raise our voice more.”

ŞEMAL: “IF WE ARE NOT UNITED...”

Şêx Şemal also spoke in the name of the PUK and stated that it is a duty for all humanity to support Afrin: “The way to stand against these attacks is through unity. If we are not united, if we don’t achieve national unity, the Turkish state will invade the whole of Kurdistan and will carry out massacres.”