Selma Irmak, one of the HDP MPs on hunger strike in front of the UN building in Geneva, has spoken in the Swiss Parliament, calling on the world to play an active role against ISIS. She said that Rojava should be formally recognised by international powers, adding that global powers would be responsible if a massacre took place in Kobanê.

The hunger strike of HDP deputies Selma Irmak, Sebahat Tuncel, Kemal Aktaş and former MEP Feleknas Uca to draw attention to ISIS attacks on Kobanê in front of the UN HQ in Geneva is now in its 5th day. In addition to the hunger strike the MPs are also involved in diplomatic activity, with Selma Irmak taking part in a meeting in the Swiss Parliament on the invitation of Swiss Mps.

Irmak was accompanied at the meeting by PYD European representative Zuhat Kobanê and PUK European representative Melle Bakhtiyar. After opening speeches by Swiss deputies, HDP MP Selma Irmak came to the podium.

We are taking action because our people are facing slaughter

Irmak thanked the Swiss parliamentarians for their invitation, and said they had initiated their hunger strike in order for the world to end its silence over ISIS gang attacks on Kobanê. She added that politicians should be involved in politics, but because they and the Kurdish people’s right to practice politics had not been recognised, they had resorted to this form of action.

Irmak said the ISIS gangs represented a great threat to the peoples of the Middle East, adding: “the world was silent over the massacre of thousands of Yezidis in Sinjar. Now ISIS wants to carry out a massacre in Rojava, where a system of the co-existence of peoples has been established. Once again the world is merely watching what is going on in Kobanê.”

The Kurds are a guarantee of co-existence in the Middle East

Irmak passed on her observations of the situation in Sinjar after the massacres and from her recent visit to Kobanê after ISIS attacks. She emphasised that the Kurds were waging a struggle against ISIS for all the peoples of the Middle East, not just for themselves, saying the Kurds were a guarantee of democracy and co-existence in the Middle East. Irmak asked why the system built to ensure co-existence in Rojava was not being protected by international forces.

Irmak emphasised that only the forces within Kobanê are fighting ISIS with limited means to prevent a possible massacre, adding that US forces are only targeting certain areas, and that these areas are not strategically important for ISIS. Irmak said that YPG forces should be supported in their resistance against ISIS gangs possessing heavy weapons, stressing that a potential massacre in Kobanê would be the responsibility of all international forces that are denying support to the resistance in Rojava.

Rojava should be recognised

Irmak said that in the confusion of the Middle East the people of Rojava had constructed a system that was an example to the world, adding that the cantons established there should be formally recognised by all international powers. She underlined that the principal aim of the ISIS attacks was to destroy the alternative system that had come into being there, adding: “if the world wants democracy in the Middle East, it should recognise the structure there.” Irmak said the economic and political embargo on Rojava should be lifted immediately, stressing that the system built in Rojava promised a future for all peoples.

Irmak answered the questions of Swiss MPs and asked the Swiss Parliament to play an active role against the ISIS gangs. She also asked the Swiss MPs to launch an initiative for the recognition of Rojava and invited them to visit the region to see for themselves what is happening there. Irmak also asked for humanitarian aid to be sent directly to Rojava rather than via other countries.

Following Irmak’s speech PUK European representative Melle Bakhtiyar called on the international powers to take action, warning that the peoples of Kurdistan faced the threat of massacre.

After a question and answer session on the Middle East and Rojava the meeting ended. Following the meeting HDP MP Selma Irmak met officials of the Swiss Foreign Ministry to discuss Rojava.