EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) has released a statement expressing heartfelt thanks to all the signatories to the Global Call, Global Rally against ISIS – for Kobanê - for Humanity!, among them Professor Noam Chomsky, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Adolfo Erez Esquivel, Dario Fo, and Jose Ramos-Horta, former President of East Timor, plus hundreds more individuals; also to organisations, NGOs, parliamentarians, politicians, political parties, trade unions, and each and every one who lent their signatures and took part in these demonstrations.

The statement by EUTCC Chair Kariane Westrheim and Secretary General Prof Dr Michael Gunter stressed that these contributions are not solely an act of solidarity with Kobanê, the Kurds and Rojava; rather an act of global cooperation for democracy, humanity and equality.

The EU Turkey Civic Commission remarked that the Global Rally was a tremendous success and exceeded expectations – a huge example of global solidarity which saw hundreds of thousands of people all over the world taking to the streets to participate in demonstrations in support of the Kurds and Kobanê. The Global Rally-it said-represented a clear and unambiguous call for a worldwide recognition of the “democratic autonomy project” in Rojava which promises a free and democratic future for all the peoples of Syria.

The EU Commission recalled that peaceful rallies and demonstrations were organised in a total of 206 cities covering 40 countries and across five continents, and that demonstrations also took place in all parts of Kurdistan where the Turkish government tried to interfere but the protesters did not allow themselves to be provoked.

Noting that this was the first time that mass demonstrations in support of the Kurds have been organised worldwide simultaneously, the EUTCC said this global united stand conveyed the strong message that the world should fight ISIS and all dark forces associated with it and instead promote freedom and human dignity.

The EUTCC said they sincerely hope that the solidarity to the courageous fighters and residents of Kobanê will grow even stronger in future. “The Kurdish Defence Units need our continued support”, it stressed and also extended thanks for the important participation, support and solidarity on the Global Day of Action for Kobane.