The 21st congress of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) started with the participation of hundreds of delegates and representatives of Kurdistan political parties.

KNK co-chairs Zeyneb Murad and Ahmet Karamus, who opened the congress, stated that a national attitude against the Turkish invasion was inevitable.

The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), which held its founding congress in Europe on 26 May 1999, has convened to hold its 21st congress. Representatives of political parties, intellectuals, writers, politicians from the 4 parts of Kurdistan, as well as observers, attended the congress.

The congress underlined the importance of the protests in Iran and Rojhilat, under the slogan "Jin jiyan Azadi", and said that it is important to stand against the attacks by the Turkish in South Kurdistan and that it is a “national duty to defend Rojava".

Common fight against the attacks

The opening speech of the congress was made by Zübeyir Aydar on behalf of the Organizing Committee. Stating that they met at an important time, Aydar emphasized the importance of the congress.

The chair of the Congress, Adem Uzun, stated that the Kurds are going through an important period and added: "Today, a comprehensive genocidal attack is taking place against our people. As Kurds, let us decide to fight together against these attacks."

'Let’s end the isolation imposed on the Kurdish people’s Leader’

Co-chairs Zeyneb Murad and Ahmet Karamus spoke at the congress, which will last until Sunday.

Referring to the struggle of the Kurdish women, Murad said: “The Kurdish enemies are carrying out genocide. There are attacks against Rojava and South Kurdistan. Genocide against our people is taking place in Iran. There is a great isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan. As a people, we must fight together against all these attacks, and especially against isolation.”

'Our land is occupied'

Co-chair Ahmet Karamus, on the other hand, touched upon the developments in the Middle East and Kurdistan in his speech. Saying that wars deepen the crises in the world as well as in the Middle East, Karamus said: "Unfortunately, we cannot talk about peace and stability in some parts of the world today. This includes our lands. Because the biggest problem in the Middle East is the Kurdish problem. Peace and stability will not come to the Middle East without solving the Kurdish problem. This needs to be known. The main source of these problems is the genocidal policy of the Iranian and Turkish states. They have occupied and exploited most of the lands of Kurdistan. This has been going on for hundreds of years. The solution is clear. The Kurds want to live in peace and stability with other peoples in the Middle East."

KONGRA-GEL co-chair Remzi Kartal spoke at the congress, while KCK Executive Council co-chair Cemil Bayık and PKK Executive Committee Member Murat Karayılan sent a message.

Remzi Kartal said: “Our struggle will continue until the colonial system collapses and the Lausanne status, which ignores the existence of the Kurds, is destroyed. As the people's defense forces, we will resist until our people are liberated.”

“Our people struggle to end the heritage of the Lausanne Treaty”

Pointing out that the KNK Congress took place in an important period, Kartal said: “We are entering 2023 with attacks. This year is the 100th anniversary of Lausanne. Our people are waging a great struggle in all four parts of Kurdistan for the end of the heritage of Lausanne and for a free system to come to life. All Kurdish parties should be a part of this struggle carried out by the people. Today, the North Kurdistan guerrillas are carrying out great resistance. People are struggling. Again, Leader Apo is waging a great battle of will.

Kurdish women are leading the struggle

Referring to the struggle of Kurdish women, Kartal said: “The revolution led by Kurdish women is a reference for women around the world today. This revolution started in Rojava and continues today in Rojhilat. The nation-states of the region are swaying. This is great news.”

Criticizing the KDP, which acted together with the Turkish invaders in their war of occupation and genocide, the KONGRA-GEL co-chair said that the Kurdish Freedom Movement continued its resistance.