YJK-E announces actions for Sakine, Fidan, Leyla in Germany

The Association of Women from Kurdistan in Germany (YJK-E) calls for protests nine years after the assassination of the Kurdish revolutionaries Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez in Paris by a Turkish contract killer and demands the punishment of those behind it.

“Our three friends were torn from our midst. This was to bring down a deadly curtain on the liberation struggle of the Kurdish people. Sakine Cansız was a tireless fighter for the ideology of women’s liberation. Fidan Doğan was the voice of the Kurdish people in Europe. Leyla Şaylemez, as a young woman, took on the responsibility of carrying Kurdish achievements into the future. By taking away our three friends, our struggle was wanted to be set back,” the association said.

This plan failed due to the resistance of Kurdish women, the YJK-E continued: “Kurdish women have accepted the legacy left by Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez and continue their struggle with even greater determination. The struggle for the punishment of their killers also continues.”

According to YJK-E, that the Turkish state is responsible for the assassination is no longer in doubt and European governments must draw consequences. “One thing should never be forgotten: You can tear out all the flowers, but you cannot prevent spring. You are afraid of women and you should continue to be afraid, because we will never give up our fight and let all attacks fail.”

On the anniversary of the murders of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez on 9 January 2013, the following actions have been announced in Germany:

Wednesday, 5 January 2022

Hamburg: 1 p.m., French Consulate (Heimhuder Straße 55).

Düsseldorf: 10 a.m., Martin Luther Platz 26

Saarbrücken: 1 p.m., French Consulate

Berlin: 11 a.m., Pariser Platz 5

Hanover: 11 a.m., French Consulate (Herrenstraße 6)

Frankfurt: 2 p.m., French Consulate

Saturday, 8 January

Bremen: Rally at 4 p.m. in front of the main railway station

Hamburg: Rally at 2 p.m. in front of Sternschanze S-Bahn station

Kiel: Demonstration at 3 p.m. at Europaplatz

Frankfurt: Demonstration at 2 p.m. from the main station

Düsseldorf: Demonstration at 1 p.m. from DGB Haus (Friedrich-Ebert-Straße)

Saarbrucken: Demonstration at 1.30 pm from Europa Galerie

Berlin: Demonstration at 2 p.m. from Alexanderplatz in front of the Red City Hall

Stuttgart: Demonstration at 3pm from Lautenschlager Straße

Hanover: Demonstration at 2pm from Central Station