The vigil started at the Qamishlo border in the Nusaybin (Nisêbîn) district of Mardin (Mêrdîn) in protest at the attacks by the Turkish state and the Syrian National Army (SNA) gangs on North-East Syria continues on its 7th day.

Activists demand an immediate end to the ongoing attacks and recognition of the status of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Dozens of artists from Mardin, Diyarbakır, Batman, Van and neighbouring provinces also joined the protest on Thursday.

DEM Party Ali Yıldırım Bingöl Provincial Co-Chair Hüseyin Yoldaş stated that the main purpose of the attack on Rojava is to destroy the gains of the Kurds and said, “We have been fighting against fascism for years. They want to destroy the gains of the Kurds. However, we have been resisting since Seyît Rıza since Şex Saîd. We will resist today as well. We appeal from here; come and hold the hand of brotherhood, the hand of peace. Do not serve the aims of the imperialists. We also call on the people of Southern Kurdistan to hold the hand of their brothers and sisters. We salute those who defend the truth, those who resist. We call for the unity of the Kurds. Today is the day of unity. We oppose those who want to destroy the gains of the Kurds. We demand freedom and equality. We have no expectations other than this. These attacks are against the gains of the Kurds. Let's protect these gains together.”

DEM Party Elazığ Provincial Co-Chair Ali Yıldırım stated that they came together to shout for peace and said, “We want to establish the future of this ancient land with peace.” Noting that they experience the destruction caused by the war every day, Yıldırım remarked that they are based on living together without marginalising anyone and added, “Peace is not just a word but a way of life.” He noted that everyone who defends peace should stand against the attacks.

Cesim Başboğa, speaking on behalf of MKM (Mesopotamia Cultural Centre) artists, said that they will stand against the attacks in Rojava and added: “We will stand against those who lay hands on our language and culture." Appealing to the Kurdish people, artists and writers, Başboğa called for solidarity with the revolution and people of Rojava.

DEM Party Mardin MP Beritan Güneş Altın noted that those who divided Kurdistan into 4 parts 100 years ago thought that they would also divide Kurds into 4 parts and said, “Today, we see that we have not moved away from each other in any way. If a bullet was fired there, we felt it here, if there was pain there, we felt it here. 100 years later, when the war started in Kobanê, the Kurdish people stood up everywhere. We will be here at the border until Rojava gains its status. The government says they have no problems with Kurds and their language. If so, why don't they want the Kurdish people to have status? Why don't they let the Kurds establish a free life? We know that they have a problem with the Kurds. They do not want the Kurds to lead their own free life. After 100 years, they want to realise a new Lausanne on the Kurds.”

Beritan Güneş Altın added, “We will not let Kurds be imprisoned in the darkness of ISIS again. A hundred years ago, Kurds were left without status and were put under isolation. Today, Mr Öcalan is also under isolation. Because Mr Öcalan expresses that there is a truth here, he tells the truth of this land.”