Tag: kurds

In Afrin, the UK Has Blood on Its Hands
In the days following the news of her friend Haukur Hilmarsson's death, Lotte Lewis spoke with many who questioned why someone from western Europe would travel to fight with the YPG. But Afrin–and the 7 year-long Civil War in Syria that has preceded it –has everything to do with the West.
Why Is Turkey Attacking Afrin?
The predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have been the strongest force against Isis. So why is Turkey attacking Afrin, the westernmost canton of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (AKA Rojava)? And why is the UK supporting Turkey?
Why Is the Met Trying to Imprison an Ex-Squaddie Who Fought Isis?
Jim Matthews, a 43-year-old ex-soldier who fought Isis in northern Syria alongside the YPG, is being charged by the Met with attending a terrorist training camp. Why are the police nicking ex-squaddies for doing the right thing?
101 Years from the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish State is Still Pursuing ‘Turkification’
Sunday Long Read: As the international community vows to 'never forget' as it commemorates the 101st anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the ideology of 'Turkification' is still playing out in the Turkish state's treatment of Kurds.
5 Ways the Turkish State is Attacking Kurds
Turkey's president has just launched a crackdown on supporters of the Kurds by proposing an inflation of terror charges to include perceived sympathisers. Here's a short guide to some of the main ways the Turkish state is attacking Kurds.
7 Ways in 7 Days We Can Show Solidarity with the People of Syria
Feeling powerless following parliament’s vote to bomb Syria and not sure what to do next? Somewhere between overwhelming hopelessness and heading off to join the YPJ there are a range of everyday acts of solidarity. Here are a week’s worth.
On Airstrikes
Sunday Long Read: The parliamentary vote to bomb Syria has provoked indignant rage across the country. Why is the case for airstrikes so shaky, who our Cameron’s allies and what support can we offer those in - and fleeing from - the region?
3 Reasons Hilary Benn’s Use of the International Brigades to Justify Bombing Syria Was Ignorant
In his lauded speech in the Commons this week, Hilary Benn invoked the memory of the antifascist International Bridges to justify the bombing of Syria. In doing so, he ignored history to bolster British jingoism.
5 Reasons It’s Kicking Off in Turkey
While the civil war continues in neighbouring Syria, Turkey has seen worrying developments in recent weeks - from the Suruç bombing and fighting between the PKK and the Turkish state, to Erdoğan's latest bid for outright control.
6 Notes on the Economics of the Rojava Revolution
Kurdish forces recently drove ISIS from the town of Kobane, and the 'democratic experiment' in Rojava has received sustained attention in recent months - but what of the economy?