Another group of peace delegation returns to Germany

Another part of the #Delegation4Peace returns today from South Kurdistan to Germany. Kurdish and internationalist groups are calling for a solidarity reception at Düsseldorf airport this evening.

The “International Delegation for Peace and Freedom in Kurdistan” consists of politicians, academics, human rights activists and activists from more than ten countries who oppose the Turkish invasion. They have traveled to Hewlêr (Erbil) with the aim of gaining a direct impression of the situation on the ground against the backdrop of the Turkish army’s invasion, which has been ongoing since the end of April, and to campaign for an end to the war and destruction. “It is quite possible that the returnees will be interrogated by the German police upon arrival. The presence of many people in solidarity is therefore enormously important,” reads the call for the reception of the delegates.

Part of the delegation was prevented from leaving the country by the federal police at Düsseldorf airport a week ago, including several members of the DIE LINKE party. Among those affected were Hamburg Left Party leader Cansu Özdemir, Alevi Left Party politician Ecevit Emre and Martin Dolzer, who had been delegated to attend on behalf of German Parliament (Bundestag) member Andrej Hunko. Several people were banned from leaving the country.

“The federal police were worried that the peace delegation could endanger German-Turkish relations. We hope to achieve this goal, because Turkey is a state that tries to suppress any democratic currents and wages a war against the population,” the appeal reads. The arrival of the plane from Hewlêr is scheduled for 7:35 pm. Participants of the solidarity reception are asked to arrive at the airport half an hour before.