The Confederation of Kurdistan Societies in Germany (KON-MED), the largest Kurdish institution in Germany, held its 3rd Ordinary Congress in the city of Bergisch Gladbach. The congress was dedicated to Evîn Goyî, who was killed in the attack in Paris on 23 December 2022.

The congress was attended by hundreds of assemblies and association representatives affiliated to KON-MED, namely FED-KURT, FED-MED, FED-DEM, FCDK-KAWA and FED-GEL. 400 delegates, representing more than 250 institutions, including 61 assemblies, 23 communes, 78 sports clubs and 49 associations affiliated to KON-MED, attended the congress. After a minute's silence, the congress started with the opening speeches by KON-MED co-chairs Zübeyde Zümrüt and Engin Sever.

‘We will work for Abdullah Öcalan's freedom’

Zümrüt stated that the Kurdish people are going through a difficult process and added that one of the main areas of work for the next year will be related to how to achieve the freedom of Leader Öcalan.”

Work to end the ban on the PKK

Emphasizing the political reasons for the massacres carried out by the Turkish state against women, Zümrüt said: "We will continue Evîn's struggle. An area in which our people in Germany should work is the lifting of the ban on the PKK. We know Germany's approach to the Kurds: within the scope of the ban on the PKK, the Kurds continue to be put under pressure. We will increase our struggle to have this ban lifted.”

 ‘German state criminalizes Kurdish institutions’

Engin Sever, on the other hand, drew attention to Germany's repression of Kurdish institutions and said that dozens of Kurdish politicians waging a political struggle in the country were arrested. Stressing that the German state is trying to criminalize Kurdish institutions, Sever said: “Our former co-chair, Tahir Köçer, and dozens of our friends are resisting in prison. Kurds are fighting for democracy and freedom. German institutions should stop criminalizing the Kurdish struggle for democracy. Despite all the pressures, we will increase our struggle by getting stronger, organized."

Stating that their congress coincided with the 100th anniversary of Lausanne, Sever added that the Kurdish people have resisted massacres and denial policies for 100 years. “Despite all the pressure, the Kurds did not give up. The Kurds will wage a greater struggle to obtain their rights in the new century.”

KON-MED new co-chairs elected

Emine Ruken Akça and Kerem Gök were elected KON-MED co-chairs. In her speech, Akça said: “We thank our friends who have deemed us worthy of such a responsibility. We will continue our work by taking into account the suggestions and criticisms expressed at this congress.”

Kerem Gök, on the other hand, said that the Kurdish people are going through a sensitive period and a sensitive process, and added: “The region and capitalist states are attacking the gains of the Kurdish people through their attacks on the Kurdish Freedom Movement. We would like to thank our friends who deemed us worthy of this responsibility in such a process. We will be worthy of Leader Apo in this task. We will be worthy of the memory of the martyrs.”