ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Citizens of Kobane and Cizire cantons in Rojava, northern Syria have taken to the streets to protest Turkey’s incursion in Jarablus and the international community’s silence.
Jinha news reported that thousands of people were in the streets.
The Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM), the coalition governing the autonomous region of Rojava in northern Syria, issued a statement accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to stop the march for freedom and democracy in the region and warned that not only Kurds but all societies were at risk from the Turkish incursion into Syria.
TEV-DEM vowed that Kurds would not allow international powers to victimize Kurds but would defend Kurdish freedom and honour and that of all peoples in the Middle East.
They also asked for Arabs, Assyrians, and Turkmen to show solidarity with the Kurds and resist Turkey’s military offensive in Syria.
Local Qamishli government also declared their support for the Kurdish forces of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
“We stand by the YPG, YPJ and SDF. They defend this land and these people,” said Semsixan Gulo, chairman of the People’s Assembly in Qamishli.
In Kobane, residents are also protesting Turkey’s construction of a cement wall along the city’s border with Turkey that, according to Ara News, will come 20 metres into Rojava land.
The Kobane Democratic Autonomous Administration issued a statement on Sunday denouncing what it called Turkish “occupation,” and warned Turkey to stay out of Kobane and all parts of Rojava.
“We appeal to our people in Kobane to revolt in the face of this occupation and renew the soul of Kobane resistance, embodying the fortress of resistance and the sacrifices of our martyrs.”
Kobane was the site of the first significant victory over the Islamic State when Kurdish forces backed by international airstrikes liberated the city in January 2015.
Shopkeepers closed their stores and joined the protest in its second day on Monday. Ehmed Sexo, co-president of TEV-DEM, vowed that the protests will continue until they see results.
Ara News reported that Kobane residents and activists feared Turkey was trying to cut off contact between Kurds across the border. “You may build a barrier wall that will reach the sky,” one protester told Ara News, “but you’ll never be able to separate our people.”
In Qamishli, protesters carried banners denouncing Turkey’s invasion of Syria and the failure of the international community to condemn it. One banner read, “Rojava is a land of democracy, freedom and honour – it will be a grave for Erdogan,” referring to the Turkish president.
Jinha news reported that thousands of people were in the streets.
The Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM), the coalition governing the autonomous region of Rojava in northern Syria, issued a statement accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to stop the march for freedom and democracy in the region and warned that not only Kurds but all societies were at risk from the Turkish incursion into Syria.
TEV-DEM vowed that Kurds would not allow international powers to victimize Kurds but would defend Kurdish freedom and honour and that of all peoples in the Middle East.
They also asked for Arabs, Assyrians, and Turkmen to show solidarity with the Kurds and resist Turkey’s military offensive in Syria.
Local Qamishli government also declared their support for the Kurdish forces of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
“We stand by the YPG, YPJ and SDF. They defend this land and these people,” said Semsixan Gulo, chairman of the People’s Assembly in Qamishli.
In Kobane, residents are also protesting Turkey’s construction of a cement wall along the city’s border with Turkey that, according to Ara News, will come 20 metres into Rojava land.
The Kobane Democratic Autonomous Administration issued a statement on Sunday denouncing what it called Turkish “occupation,” and warned Turkey to stay out of Kobane and all parts of Rojava.
“We appeal to our people in Kobane to revolt in the face of this occupation and renew the soul of Kobane resistance, embodying the fortress of resistance and the sacrifices of our martyrs.”
Kobane was the site of the first significant victory over the Islamic State when Kurdish forces backed by international airstrikes liberated the city in January 2015.
Shopkeepers closed their stores and joined the protest in its second day on Monday. Ehmed Sexo, co-president of TEV-DEM, vowed that the protests will continue until they see results.
Ara News reported that Kobane residents and activists feared Turkey was trying to cut off contact between Kurds across the border. “You may build a barrier wall that will reach the sky,” one protester told Ara News, “but you’ll never be able to separate our people.”
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