21 Kurdish associations and institutions working in various cities in Sweden condemn the KDP administration for arresting 4 YPG fighters, 2 of whom are Swedish, and demand they release the YPG members at once.
Swedes Jesper Söder and Andreas Charalabos Panagiotidis and British fighters Andrew Johnwoodhead and Lee Egerton who participated in the operation to liberate Raqqa were arrested by the KDP security forces near Akre city in Southern Kurdistan on June 25.
Institutions including the Swedish Democratic Kurdish Cultural Center, Stockholm Kurdish Institute, Amara Kurdish Women’s Assembly, Sema Women’s Union, Stockholm Mesopotamia Cultural Association, Uppsala Kurdish Solidarity Association, Avesta Cultural Center, Helsinborg International Women’s Association and Warshin Women’s Commune protested the arrest of international YPG fighters harshly.
"ARRESTING YPG MEMBERS WILL SERVE THE ENEMIES OF KURDS"
The joint statement by 21 Kurdish Institutions stresses that the KDP’s negative stance towards Rojava, PYD, YPG and YPJ serves the enemies of the Kurdish people and harms Kurdish national unity, and continues:
“At a time when the operation to liberate Raqqa continues in full swing, as intense clashes with ISIS gangs continue and the Turkish state’s attacks on Rojava increase, it is unacceptable that the KDP security forces arrest YPG fighters. At a time when the Kurdish people need unity more than ever, we strongly condemn the KDP for arresting YPG fighters and we demand the immediate release of 4 YPG members.”
YPG MEMBERS’ ARREST IN THE MEDIA
Swedish state television and many other visual media organs extensively covered the arrest of 4 YPG members, 2 of whom are Swedens.
A couple of weeks ago, Swedish state television had refrained from broadcasting an interview with Söder. Söder had given statements on the constituents of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the operation to liberate Raqqa and said: “We have taken parts of Raqqa under control. But we are also trying to remove as many civilians as we can from the city.”
Meanwhile, the Swedish Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming the arrest of two Swedish citizens in Southern Kurdistan.
"WE WILL HAVE AN INITIATIVE WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY"
Swedish Democratic Kurdish Society Center Co-chair Hamit Biten said they are in contact with the families of two Swedish fighters the KDP has arrested, and that they will have an initiative with the Foreign Ministery to have Jesper Söder and Andreas Charalabos Panagiotidis released.
