Barcelona City Council issues declaration in support of the Kurdish people

Barcelona city council issued a statement in support of the Kurdish people. The council “condemns any military attack by the Syrian government or its allies against the Kurdish population and Kurdish-controlled territories, as well as the violation of the agreement signed between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”

The statement added that the council “supports the preservation of all self-government structures established by the Kurdish population, which has demonstrated, through concrete actions, its willingness and ability to govern a highly ethnically diverse territory in a stable and inclusive manner.

We reaffirm our commitment to peoples striving for dignity, self-determination, and democracy, and demand respect for their language and culture, as provided under international law.”

The statement underlined that “given that Barcelona as a city has always played a leading role in defending fundamental and democratic rights, as well as civil liberties, we wish to express our solidarity with the Kurdish people as they face political and social vulnerability, human rights violations, and instability. We demand the immediate cessation of any military action against Kurdish territories and populations, and affirm that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, respect for human rights, and recognition of diversity.”

The statement also emphasised “the need for Europe to play a firmer and more decisive role in the face of systematic human rights violations and to defend the rights of the Kurdish people by demanding the immediate end of all military operations in civilian areas and full protection of civilians and essential services in accordance with international humanitarian law. We are calling for an independent and transparent international investigation into all violations and massacres in order to hold those responsible accountable, establish guarantees of non-repetition through independent monitoring mechanisms, and ensure the safe and dignified return of displaced persons, fair compensation, and the reconstruction of the affected areas.”