Darmstadt: Protests against Turkish chemical weapons in Kurdistan!

Darmstadt: Protests against Turkish chemical weapons in Kurdistan!

activist: Inside from the Kurdish diaspora, in Darmstadt last weekend to protest against the military promotions of Türkiye in Kurdistan. The demonstration, which took place on Luisenplatz, was organized by the Kurdish People's Council and the Women's Assembly. The event of the event was serious: At the beginning, a minute's silence of the fallen of the Kurdish liberation struggle was commemorated.

Darmstadt is part of a greater protest of the alleged violations of Türkiye against international law. The umbrella organization Kon-Med e.V. condemns the use of chemical weapons in difficult to access mountain regions of Kurdistan. It is particularly serious that these attacks take place despite a unilateral ceasefire from the PKK (Workers' Party Kurdistan). Mehmet çopan, co-chair of the FCDK-Kawa Federation, emphasizes that these military actions are a new wave of attack that is carried out with immoral means.

support for the Kurdish struggle

According to çopan, the offensive aims to weaken the political influence of the Kurdish movement and to destroy the perspective of an autonomous Kurdish status. He called on international solidarity and encouraged those present to work with democratic actors: inside in Europe to support Kurdish resistance. The hashtag #Turkeyus chemicals is distributed on social media in order to draw attention to the allegations of chemical weapons.

The use of chemical weapons by the Turkish army is not a new phenomenon. According to an information dossier of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Turkey has been documenting systematic violations of international conventions, in particular the Chemical Office Convention (CWC) since the 1990s. Reports on the use of chemical weapons in 2009, 2013, 2017 and during the invasion in Efrîn 2018 give rise to concern. The latest reports show that chemical weapons have been repeatedly used in South Kurdistan since April 2021, which led to numerous dead and injured.

the Kurdish identity and its challenges

The questions about the Kurdish identity are also deeply interwoven with the current conflict. In an article by Prof. Dr. Dr. Ümit Yazıcıoğlu is outlined the complexity of the Kurdish question in Turkey. This problem includes political, social and economic dimensions and requires a comprehensive approach. Historically, oppressive policies of the Turkish Republic have led to the chronification of the Kurdish question and left numerous social trauma.

The repressive measures against the Kurdish population, which are often misinterpreted as a "problem of terrorism", continue to complicate the solution to the conflicts. Abdullah Öcalan's model of "democratic confederalism" is considered an alternative approach to correction of these deep problems. In order to ensure the rights of the Kurds and to contribute to social peace in Turkey, measures for political representation and strengthening of local administrations are essential.

The protest in Darmstadt is more than just a local event. It is part of a continuous struggle for the recognition and rights of the Kurds, which requires international attention and solidarity. Only together and with a serious political will can be sought to improve the perspectives for peace and stability in the region.

The international community is responsible. As long as the voices of the Kurds are ignored, the upheavals in the region remain a dispute that not only affects Turkey, but the stability in the entire Middle East.