Kurdish women joining the sit-in in Strasbourg call for action for Sur

The sit-in launched by Kurds outside the European institutions in Strasbourg continues in its 11th day.

The sit-in launched by Kurds outside the European institutions in Strasbourg continues in its 11th day. The action against the Turkish state's massacres in North Kurdistan had been set to last five days but was later extended upon a decision by demonstrators to continue the action until their demands are fulfilled.

The protest in front of the Council of Europe (EC), European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Commission for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) buildings in Strasbourg aims to break the European institutions’ silence towards the massacres of the Turkish state, led by Erdoğan and the AKP, in Kurdistan. Hundreds of protestors are calling for the dropping of Turkey’s membership in the European Council, ending of the ECHR’s approval of the massacres in Kurdistan, and ending of the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Banners, posters and photos of Öcalan decorate the 40 meters-long tent in which protestors carry out their sit-in.

Elen Dêrsim from the organising committee said their aim was to make the ECHR, EC and CPT take action against the ongoing massacres and create awareness among the European public opinion regarding the Turkish state's crimes against humanity and Kurdish population. She said they urged the CPT to do its duty on the isolation of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Elen Dêrsim stressed that they as Kurdish women will continue their protest, adding; "It is women and children that get the biggest harm amid the ongoing massacres. We as women and mothers are on streets now to stop this persecution. We are doing whatever we can to make it stop. We will never give up on this cause and we will enhance our struggle against fascism and AKP dictatorship."

Another demonstrator Sarya Ardil stated that they have distributed around 3 thousand leaflets in Strasbourg city centre so far to provide information about the ongoing massacre of Kurds. She added that they will continue their efforts to inform the public opinion through similar activities.