Peray Ahmet, the Cypriot Turkish intellectual and Mayor of Haringey Council, one of London’s important municipalities, wrote an official letter to UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper regarding the ongoing attacks against the Kurdish people. Co-signed with Cabinet Member for Communities Ajda Ovat, the letter calls for the protection of the Kurdish community, the clear condemnation of human rights violations, and the establishment of international protection mechanisms for civilians.
In the letter, Peray Ahmet emphasized that the Kurdish people were on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and that tens of thousands of Kurds lost their lives in this struggle, yet today the same people are once again being targeted. He stated that the silence of the international community, despite the heavy price paid by the Kurdish people, is unacceptable.
Recalling that Haringey is home to the second-largest Kurdish population in the United Kingdom, Peray Ahmet noted that Kurds are deeply concerned about the developments.
Peray Ahmet called on the ministry to ensure the protection of Kurdish identity, openly condemn human rights violations, and activate international protection mechanisms for civilians. At the end of the letter, it was underlined that the UK has a historical and political responsibility to achieve lasting peace in Syria. It was stated that peace is only possible through a system based on local democratic governance in which minority peoples are protected.
Mayor of Erbil: We will resist
Ergin Erbil, Mayor of Enfield, another of the London boroughs with the largest Kurdish population, said: “We know very well what kind of darkness Rojava is facing.”
Erbil added: “ISIS, HTS: their names may change, but the reality does not. Their ideologies are the same. Their oppression is the same. The brutality they carry out is the same. And our resistance against this must continue with the same determination. We will continue to resist. Our very existence is resistance in itself.”
Erbil continued: “We are fighting not only here in London, but for all Kurds anywhere in the world who are deprived of security, dignity, and justice. We are grateful to all our comrades and friends who refuse to remain silent in the face of injustice.”
Stating that they continue to put pressure on ministers to take concrete steps, Erbil said, “We will continue our struggle for stronger and more concrete measures against the repression and violence carried out by jihadist forces such as ISIS and HTS. Words alone are not enough. Our people need protection, accountability, and real international pressure.”
WE ARE EACH OTHER’S FRIENDS
Referring to the saying “Kurds have no friends but the mountains,” Mayor Erbil said, “But today we know there is another truth: we are each other’s friends. And together, we will continue to struggle for freedom, for peace, and for justice,” concluding his remarks.
ENFIELD LABOUR PARTY: OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE KURDISH PEOPLE CONTINUES
The Enfield District Organization of the ruling Labour Party, one of the party’s most important centers in London, also issued a statement declaring its solidarity with Rojava and Kurdish communities around the world.
The statement emphasized that the violence taking place in northeastern Syria is extremely concerning and said: “Even if ISIS and HTS change their names, their ideologies and the brutality they practice remain the same. Kurds and other minorities have the right to security, dignity, and justice. Therefore, as Enfield Labour Party, we advocate not only with words but with real actions for the following demands: the protection of civilians, accountability for human rights violations, de-escalation, and the provision of humanitarian aid. We support the government’s call for maintaining the ceasefire and guaranteeing minority rights. We have shared our concerns with government officials and will continue to directly convey the worries of our community. Our solidarity with the Kurdish people continues.”