Members of the European Parliament (EP) from different political groups delivered messages of solidarity with Rojava. EP member parliamentarians said the attacks on Rojava by Turkish state-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) mercenary groups must stop and stressed that the autonomy of the Kurdish people must be recognized.
Ana Miranda: We must support them for peace worldwide
Ana Miranda, a member of the European Free Alliance, said: “We offer our full support to the Kurdish people against the attacks they are currently facing in Rojava. On behalf of the European Free Alliance, today we sent a letter to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, condemning the attacks against the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people are fighting against ISIS, and we must support them for peace worldwide. At this moment, in the context of the geopolitical problems involving Trump and the overall situation of attacks, we need to defend the people of Rojava even more. As the European Free Alliance, we are always on the side of the Kurdish people.”
Mariani Thierry: I find the European Union and France both blind and cowardly
Thierry Mariani, a member of France’s Rassemblement National within the Patriots for Europe Group, said: “Unfortunately, what is happening is ultimately not surprising. It is not surprising because the West is now supporting Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Jolani)’s government and trusting it blindly. And especially now, the West is turning a blind eye. So, what is happening? Today, the threat to Europe and France is not an attack on Greenland or an attack by the Americans; it is that what is happening in the Middle East will have extremely serious consequences. We see that the Kurds have been completely abandoned. We see that we are allowing Turkey to behave as it always does. And France and Europe are remaining strikingly silent about what is happening in Turkey or rather about what is happening with Turkey in Syria. What is extremely serious is that Kurdish autonomy is now being entirely called into question. What is extremely serious is that they are now besieged. And what is extremely serious is that the camps have been taken over and are now controlled by former terrorists. And everything indicates that detainees will be released.
I believe the European Union and France were far too quick to celebrate what is happening in Syria. I find the European Union and France both blind and cowardly. What should be done? Today, the Kurds, who have a certain degree of autonomy that was even recognized by the Assad regime, must be able to continue preserving their distinct identity. Those who pose danger to Europe must remain in prison. Above all, we must stop blindly trusting this Syrian government. You know, a terrorist does not become a social democrat simply because he takes power. Once again, France and Europe are displaying great naivety and, I repeat, great secularism. The Kurds fighting alongside us was a great opportunity for us. Today, we have no right to abandon them, even to the Turks.”
Leoluca Orlando: We must defend the Kurds
Leoluca Orlando, former Mayor of Palermo and an independent member of the Greens/European Free Alliance, said: “I am a European Parliament member of Leoluca Orlando. I defend the rights of the Kurds. I want to say that we support the Kurds in Rojava. Because we believe it is unacceptable that the Kurds are being killed in a context where Turkey and the United States claim to demonstrate the Syrian regime’s capacity to respect human rights and to defend security against ISIS attacks. We must express our gratitude to the Kurds and we must defend them.”