On Monday morning, several dozen activists announced the establishment of a ‘Security Zone for Democracy’ in front of the Turkish Embassy in Vienna. Flora Koss, spokeswoman for the ‘Security Zone for Democracy’ action group, said: “With this action, we are referring to the current situation in Syria. After 54 years of dictatorship, the people there finally want to live in self-determination. The advance of Islamist forces and the Turkish Erdoğan regime are a danger to this.”

“In 2012, in the midst of the Syrian civil war, people in Rojava began to build a democratic alternative beyond Assad and Islamism. What many are now calling for in Syria is already being practised in North-East Syria. People of different faiths and different population groups are shaping their political life together. Women play a central role in decision-making processes,” Flora Koss stated.

“Erdoğan justifies this offensive by saying that he wants to create a security zone around DAANES. He accuses the autonomous administration of terrorism and talks about its proximity to the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). The real terrorist is Erdoğan himself. What the people of North-East Syria really need is protection from the terror of the Turkish state, a safe zone for self-determination and democracy,” Koss added.

Expressing outrage over the current discourse in the Austrian public, Simon Walser of the action alliance said: “In this country, the media and politicians are now discussing what cooperation with the Islamist militia HTS and the pro-Turkish SNA might look like and when the refugees can be deported back to Syria. This is absurd. Instead, we should be talking about long-term solutions and working with the democratic actors on the ground.”

“The greatest danger for the DAANES (Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria) and a democratic future in Syria currently comes from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. That is why we are here today in front of the Turkish Embassy. Since the DAANES came into existence, Turkey has been waging war against the region. In several offensives, Turkey has occupied territory and displaced people in violation of international law,” added spokesperson Simon Walser.

The coalition also criticised the Austrian government's policy, saying: ‘It is hypocritical to speak of democracy while making common cause with Erdoğan. Austria should take the side of the democratic forces in Syria. Specifically, this means that Austria must finally recognise the DAANES.”

The activists also addressed the issue of flight, calling for the right of residence for all Syrians in Austria: "It is absurd to talk about deportations to Syria now. All political energy must go into building a democratic country where people can and want to live again.”