On the occasion of the anniversary of the second Paris massacre, a commemoration event started is taking place Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre. The killer Turkish state and the silence of France were denounced at the event.
The Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (Tevgera Jinên Kurd a Eworpayê-TJK-E) is organising commemoration activities for KCK Executive Council Member Evîn Goyî, artist Mîr Perwer and activist Abdurrahman Kızıl, who were murdered on 23 December 2022 at Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre in Paris. Kurds and their friends gathered in front of the Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre where the massacre took place two years ago and chanted ‘Şehid namirin’ (Martyrs are immortal) and ‘Jin, Jîyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom). Portrait photographs of those who lost their lives in the first and second Paris massacres were carried during the protest. PKK founding member Sakine Cansız (Sara), Fîdan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî), who were murdered by the Turkish state in Paris on 9 January 2013, were also remembered.
The commemoration event started with a minute of silence at the time of the massacre.
‘The killers are known, why is the French state silent?’
Speaking on behalf of TJK-E, Dilan Amed asked, “The killers are known, why is the French state silent?” Stating that the decision of the massacre was made by the Turkish state, Dilan Amed addressed the French state and said, “If the French state does not want to be a partner in this dirty war of the Turkish state, it should shed light on this massacre.”
Stating that the Turkish state builds its existence on the extermination of the Kurds, Dilan Amed said, “The Turkish state is perpetrating such massacres to destroy the Kurdish struggle. To this end, it attacks Rojava and deepens the isolation of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan).”
‘We will continue our struggle until Leader Apo is free’
Dilan Amed referred to the importance of Abdullah Öcalan’s paradigm and called for the struggle to be increased. Dilan Amed recalled the greeting sent by Leader Apo during his meeting with his nephew Ömer Öcalan and said, “Once again, we receive the greeting sent by Leader Apo. We will increase the struggle with this greeting. We will continue our struggle until Leader Apo is free.”
‘We will fight until the end’
Emine Kara, a relative of martyr Evîn Goyî, noted that Evîn Goyî grew up in Maxmur Refugee Camp and fought in 4 parts of Kurdistan: “One draws strength from Evîn's life of struggle. She undertook important missions in Rojava. She made a great effort in the struggle against ISIS. Even though she came to Europe after suffering an injury, she never gave up the struggle. As her family, we want this incident to be clarified. We will not give up the struggle of Saras and Evîns. We will fight until the end.”
‘This is not a fate’
Celal Turan, a relative of martyr Abdurrahman Kızıl, said that no light has been shed on the massacre, although 2 years have passed since. Turan continued: “The Turkish state is behind this massacre. This massacre happened because the previous Paris Massacre had not been brought to light. However, this is not a fate. Enough is enough! Kurdish people have a great opportunity that will come once in 100 years in 4 parts of Kurdistan. Kurds should utilise this opportunity.”
Turan denounced the attempts to cover up the massacre with relations of interest and said, “The French state should do whatever it takes to shed light on this massacre.”
‘We will protect their legacy’
Zübeyde Zümrüt, Co-President of KCDK-E, stated: “We are angry as much as we are sorry. We know the murderers of the Paris massacres as we know the murderers in Dersim, Maraş and Roboski. Revolutionaries and pioneering women were targeted in Paris due to the dirty policies of the Turkish state.” Zümrüt emphasised that women were targeted because they followed the paradigm of Leader Apo and said, “Sakine Cansız left us a revolutionary legacy, Evîn left us the Rojava system, we will protect their legacy.”
Zübeyde Zümrüt stated that the gains of the Kurds were intended to be destroyed and said, “Evîn protected Europe with her struggle against ISIS, but the French state did not protect her and turned a blind eye to the murderers.”
‘We will increase our struggle’
Zümrüt concluded: “We will keep their struggle going. The brutal Turkish state is deepening the isolation of Öcalan to break our will. We will increase our struggle until Leader Apo is freed, and the Kurdish question is resolved.”
The commemoration event continued with the performance of Meyzen Agît and will be attended by the friends of Kurds at 18:00.
