Women across Europe and Kurdistan met in Strasbourg between 19 and 22 April 2016 to join a Solidarity Team and to support the İmralı Peace Delegation as well as the permanent vigil for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

A statement by the women in the Solidarity Team and the İmralı Peace Delegation recalled that; “Kurdish women are the main actor of the struggle against fascist oppression of Daesh and the Turkish government. Because of that, women were the main target of the oppression since the political feminicide of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, and Leyla Şaylemez in 2013 to the killing in Silopi of Sevê Demir, Pakize Nayir, and Fatma Uyar. Also under the curfew women are specifically targeted with sexual abuses. Since the beginning of the Kurdish freedom struggle, women from all over the world showed their support among others by joining YPJ forces and promoting solidarity.”

The statement pointed out that the killing of female politicians, journalists, lawyers and activists and became the start of widespread state violence against civilians.

“We, as women in the Solidarity Team and the İmralı Peace Delegation, strongly condemn the human rights violations and the crimes against humanity committed by Turkish state, the silence of the Council of Europe and the complicity of the European Union by making an agreement with the Turkish government despite its openly and reiterate violation of all ratified conventions.”

The women asked the above mentioned institutions and the international community to strongly condemn Turkish violations of international law, to delist PKK and to use their power to put pressure on the Turkish government to resume the peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK.

The signatories are; Barbara Spinelli; Kariane Westrheim; Simonetta Crisci; Sara Montinaro; Selene Verri; Susanne Rossling; Arzu Pesmen; Anke Heyerick; Margot Cassiers; Elly Van Reusel; Minoo Kofoed; Sayla Borgwardt; Sian Adey Cilia; Radha De Souza.