A delegation of women from Rojava continues its talks in Europe to provide information about the Turkish state’s increasingly ongoing genocidal attacks against North-East Syria.

In addition to European institutions, the delegation meets people in the Kurdish Community Centres organised in the diaspora and talks about the latest developments in Rojava.

The delegation, which first went to Switzerland, is made up of Kongra Star Democratic Alliances and Communication Committee Member Ruken Ahmed, Khawla El-Issa, Co-Chair of the North-East Syrian Education Committee and Zenubiya Women’s Community Council Coordination. Ilham Ehmed, Co-Chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (MSD) Executive Board, was also expected to be a part of the delegation but reportedly couldn’t leave Rojava for security reasons.

Ruken Ahmed and Khawla El-Issa attended a panel at the University of Zurich and spoke about the developments in Rojava and North-East Syria and the ceaseless attacks of the Turkish state.

Ruken Ahmed pointed out that Turkish attacks, which are directed against the leading figures of the revolution, are encouraged by international silence. “Drones are circling over us every day. We say farewell to our family members while leaving our homes in the morning. The International Coalition against ISIS claims to be against these attacks but continues to sell drone parts to Turkey. There is an alliance against ISIS but everyone is silent about the attacks of the Turkish state, which seeks to intimidate people through targeting the prominent leaders of the revolution, but will not achieve its goal. To our regret, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is not allowed to make long-term plans because it is under attack on a daily basis. The invading Turkish state is doing everything in its power to cause an uproar, committing war crimes, bombing schools, mosques and every single civil facility and area. Their main objective is to choke the revolution.”

Khawla El-Issa, on the other hand, spoke about the changes experienced in the region, citing the case of Raqqa, which served as the capital of the so-called ISIS caliphate but regained its freedom thanks to the struggle of the Kurdish-led SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces).

Speaking about the times when Raqqa was under the rule of ISIS, she stated: “Before the liberation of the city, ISIS propagated that ‘Kurds will kill everyone when they come’ and called for a war against the Kurds. However, it turned out to be the contrary when they came. I got to know women’s identity with the Kurds and the revolution. ISIS is still launching attacks, which the Turkish state wants to escalate. The Turkish state supports ISIS and seeks to create chaos in the region.”

The delegation will also hold talks with the Kurdish society in Switzerland and Swiss non-governmental organisations and submit dossiers on the war crimes committed by Turkey in the region. The delegation will also meet officials from the Foreign Ministry and complete its tour in Switzerland on 19 November.

The program of the public meetings to be attended by the delegation is as follows:

17 November, Friday, at 18:00: Democratic Kurdish Community Centre in Bern

18 November, Saturday, at 14:00: Rojava Cultural Centre in Zurich

19 November, Sunday: Democratic Kurdish Community Centre in Lausanne