Thousands of Kurds took to the streets in Lausanne on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, which formed the basis for the genocidal attacks against the Kurds in the last century.

Accompanied by their friends, Kurds from four parts of Kurdistan marched from Place de la Navigation in front of the Château d'Ouchy on the banks of Lac Léman to Palais Rumine, where the partition of Kurdistan was sealed on 24 July 1923 by the Treaty of Lausanne. The march was followed by a rally in the square of Palais Rumine.

Yüksel Koç: We will continue our resistance

Addressing the crowd here, Yüksel Koç, member of the Lausanne Committee, said that the Kurdish people have been under a Turkish, Arab and Persian colony for a hundred years. “After a century, we, people from four parts of Kurdistan, are here today to say ‘we are here and we exist’. Vicious policies have been pursued against our country for a hundred years because of this treaty. From Halabja to western Kurdistan, our cities have been bombed. The Kurds have been subjected to thousands of massacres. Children from Rojava (North Syria) were martyred in Bashur (North Iraq); children from Bakur (East Turkey) were martyred in Rojhilat (Northwestern Iran), and youths from Bashur in Bakur. It is finally time to unite. We reject this agreement. As Kurds from four parts (of Kurdistan), we will continue our resistance.”

Zeynep Murad: Kurds are not the Kurds of the past

KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) Co-Chair Zeynep Murad said: “Kurds are not the Kurds of the past. We are engaged in politics and diplomacy. We fight for Kurdish identity and fight for women’s freedom. We are on the streets and our paradigm is known throughout the whole world today. Our slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ [Woman, Life, Freedom] has become the common slogan of women all around the globe. We came to these days thanks to the struggle of women and the guerrillas. We are here today after 100 years.”

Dr. Savari: Öcalan's freedom will conduce to freedom in the Middle East

Dr. Beppe Savary-Borioli, member of the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Committee in Switzerland, also made a speech and said he was ashamed of the signing of the treaty that led to the division of Kurdistan in the city of Lausanne. “It is obvious why Turkey, Syria and Iran would not give up on Kurdistan. Kurdistan must become Kurdistan again. We reject the listing of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) as a terrorist organization. It is the PKK that finished off ISIS. Instead of thanking them, we still keep them on the terror list. Europe handed Abdullah Öcalan over to them. It is a crime against humanity. We have not been able to receive any news about his condition for years. Just like Mandela’s freedom conduced to freedom in Africa, so will Öcalan’s freedom in the Middle East. From now on, the unity of Kurdistan is the most important thing to us. Kurds shout out from here as one voice, which is ‘great Kurdistan’.”

Asya Abdullah: Long live the unity of Kurdistan

Speaking after, PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-Chair Asya Abdullah greeted the crowd saying ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ and stated: “This treaty was signed to divide the lands of Kurdistan, we condemn and reject the Treaty of Lausanne, because of which the Kurdish people have paid great prices and fighting for a hundred years. We are here again today. We exist and will continue our resistance to the very end. We bow respectfully before the martyrs of Kurdistan. Women, children, Rojava, Imrali, YPG and HPG are resisting against this treaty today. Tens of thousands have fallen as martyrs. We will claim our martyrs and our resistance. As long as the Kurdish alliance and the unity of Kurdish women exist, our resistance will continue and grow. The resistance of Leader Abdullah Öcalan is also against the Treaty of Lausanne. Long live the unity of Kurdistan, long live the resistance of women.”

The rally continued with songs performed by artists from four parts of Kurdistan.