Thousands of Kurds living in Europe have gathered in Paris to remember PKK founding member Sakine Cansız, Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Paris Representative Fidan Doğan and Kurdish Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez who were assassinated in Kurdistan Information Center in the heart of the French capital on January 9, 2013.

Masses started to gather at Gare du Nord as of early morning hours to join the rally organised by European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E). Demonstrators that are marching to the République Square where a rally will be held are carrying photographs of Sakine, Fidan and Leyla as well as posters of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and flags of PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party), YPG/YPJ (People's/Women's Defense Units).

Demonstrators are protesting the French state for the postponement of the trial for gunman Ömer Güney who suddenly died in mid December 2016 before appearing in court almost 4 years after the mass execution.

"Your silence is due to your complicity" chant demonstrators who include Cansız, Doğan and Şaylemez families, representatives of French NGOs, officials from communist and socialist parties and executives of Kurdish institutions.

Banners carried by protestors read "Justice for murdered militants", "We do not forget, we do not forgive", "The murderer is dead but our thoughts are alive and free. What is France doing?".

French police have taken intensified security measures in the demonstration area.