Thousands of Kurds gathered outside the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday to protest at the attacks on Kobanê. They shouted ‘free Kobanê’.

Around ten thousand people from Kurdistan and their comrades gathered in Parliament Square yesterday at a rally before the march. Many democratic organisations and NGOs attended the march. MEP Jean Lambert spoke at the rally, calling for the PKK to be removed from the list of terrorist organisations as soon as possible. Jean Lambert emphasized that the international powers have to help and support Kurds fighting against ISIS gangs in Kobanê.

Representatives of NGOs made speeches and criticized the silence of the international powers against the ISIS attacks on Kobanê. They called on these powers for humanitarian and heavy weapon aid. After the speeches, tens of thousands of people started marching towards the Prime Minister’s house in Downing Street.

While slogans in solidarity with Kobanê were shouted during the march, thousands of leaflets were distributed. The slogans and speeches emphasized that the cantons of Rojava have to be recognised, a security aid corridor has to be opened for Kobanê as soon as possible and the necessary weapons have to be given to the YPG.

One of the most prevalent slogans and messages shouted during the march was “Kurds are fighting, you are watching.”

Hundreds of police were present on the march and 3 people were taken into custody. A melee occurred after the police wanted to search 2 protestors and tension increased between the police and the protestors. After the tension which continued for an hour, 2 youths were taken from the hands of the police and another melee broke out. Thousands of people protesting the arrests and the behaviour of the police closed the roads to traffic and organised a sit-down protest for an hour. The arrested youths were then released.