The demonstration to mark the tenth anniversary of the murders of Sakine Cansız (Sara), Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî) will take place in Paris today. The three Kurdish revolutionaries were murdered by a Turkish agent on 9 January 2013 in the Kurdistan Information Center at 147 Rue La Fayette. But this year's protest has another meaning: on 23 December 2022, Evîn Goyî (Emine Kara), Mîr Perwer (Mehmet Şirin Aydın) and Abdurrahman Kızıl were murdered in the attack on the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Center, also in Paris.

Evîn Goyî was part of the organizing committee that was preparing the commemoration activities on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the death of Cansız and her comrades. Her murder took place at the time of a preparatory meeting. In an ANF interview, the chair of the Kurdish umbrella organization in France (CDK-F), Abdullah Ülmez, talked about the upcoming protest and the murders in Paris.

First, let's talk about the action that will take place today. Can you explain the meaning of this action?

As is well known, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were murdered on 9 January 2013 in the middle of Paris by Turkish agents linked to MIT. This massacre was organised and planned in Ankara and carried out in Paris. This is shown both by the audio recordings of the shooter that were leaked to the press and by confessions by MIT officers in the hands of the PKK. As CDK-F, we submitted the information we received through the media, as well as the testimonies of the captured intelligence officers - which, as you know, were also published in the press - as part of the proceedings before the French courts. In fact, this is a massacre whose perpetrators are known. Despite ten years that have passed, the French state is only dealing with the case in relation to the killer. In other words, the main perpetrators and, above all, the planners of this massacre have not yet been exposed by the French judiciary. No attempt was made to track them. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the 9 January massacre. Ahead of this tenth anniversary, we said that State secrets should be lifted and the information held by the French judiciary should be made available to the public. We began preparations for this action three months ago by demanding that the main perpetrators be identified and brought to justice.

This is one of the largest protest actions by the Kurdish community in Europe. It has traditionally been held in Paris every year since 2013. Of course, it carries a lot of organizational work. We had to start preparing for it months in advance. These preparations were made under the leadership of Evîn Goyî, who was murdered here on 23 December. She was one of the leading figures in the women's movement in France. We haven't recovered from the shock. This is the situation. The sensitivity of the French public is also at a peak. Since 2013, perhaps never before has the French public been so sensitive to the Kurdish issues and the massacres carried out in Europe. It is in such an atmosphere that we enter the week of the anniversary of the massacre. We actually had to rethink our preparations from the start because the format changed completely. We are no longer just fighting for the massacre to be uncovered, for the truth to come out. Now we must ask for accountability for two massacres. Two massacres that we believe were planned by the same mastermind. We will take to the streets for this. We can say that this attack has both changed and enlarged the format. Within this framework, we had to review our preparations again, of course, without giving up our commitment to the principles and perspectives that our friend Evîn presented for this action three or four months ago, because we would like to emphasize that her flag will not be left on the ground.

Actions will take place today but also on the 9th. What kind of demonstration can we expect today? Who has been invited?

The current demonstration was developed under the direction of comrade Evîn, who planned a human chain for justice on 4 January, a protest action against the massacre on 7 January and an official commemoration event on 9 January, which was to take place in front of the Kurdistan Information Office and was to be attended by state institutions and the city of Paris. A conference in Parliament was planned for 12 January. Evîn was actually the architect of this plan, which will continue as before. We had the human chain for justice as planned. There was a silent march. The action today will be the real culmination of this commemoration. The Kurdish institutions and personalities in Europe have made important calls for this action. After the 23 December massacre, these calls have increased. We expect strong participation from the Kurds living in France, the neighbouring countries and the other European countries. We even expect a much higher turnout than in previous years.

Our technical preparations are also going in this direction. We expect a double or triple influx compared to previous years. The messages we have received also indicate this. We know that many buses have been hired and preparations made in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Again, we know that people will come to Paris in their own vehicles, or by train.

In addition, we have made an appeal to all French elected officials and mayors. We expect around 300 French elected officials to take part in the demonstration today. So far, we have received a number of concrete responses to our invitation, including mayors, parliamentarians and members of municipal councils. We also approached the big unions in France. They said they would participate with their own flags and their own banners. Appeals were also made to feminist organizations active in France via the women's movement TJK-F. Many feminist organizations will also participate. We expect the participation of representatives from almost 40 feminist organizations. In addition, ecological groups, left socialist groups, political parties, elected and unelected representatives of political parties will take part in this action. So far we have received a lot of positive feedback. We've even received emails and letters from those we couldn't reach pledging to attend. In this regard, there will be a strong participation from social groups representing the conscientious sections of French public opinion.

Finally, we expect a large participation of diaspora organizations in exile from Turkey. AFTİT, AVEGKON, Alevi organizations, women's organizations from Turkey, workers' organizations, left-socialist organizations, friends and comrades who have been by our side since 23 December.

The main group will be, of course, formed by the Kurds living in and around Paris and other French cities. At the farewell and commemoration ceremony, we received a great deal of sympathy. The whole world should feel what a great injustice, what a great cruelty and what a great crime the Kurds suffered in this city for the second time in ten years. This situation must be understood by France, the European public and the whole world. It must be clear that Kurdish blood does not come cheap."