The Lausanne City Council recently adopted motions that include the recognition of Rojava’s status. Sevgi Koyuncu, a municipal council member from the Left Alliance (Ensemble à Gauche) and the proposer of the motions, spoke to ANF about the significance of these decisions.
Rojava seen as red line for Kurds
Sevgi Koyuncu said the adoption of these motions is the result of long-standing efforts. Koyuncu said: “In fact, this was a proposal we had been working on since 2023, since the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne. However, the conditions were not yet fully in place. The scale of the attack after January 6, and its aim to completely eliminate Rojava, drew the attention of the international public. This process accelerated the proposal.”
Koyuncu stated that the solidarity actions that emerged across Europe during the attacks on Rojava were significant and added: “These actions and events not only helped prevent a genocide. At the same time, they showed the global public how much of a red line Rojava is for the Kurds. The strong defense of Rojava created great awareness not only among the Kurdish people but also among their allies, the international public, and even states.”
Not a symbolic decision
Koyuncu noted that the proposal had been brought to the agenda before and said that the municipal administration initially viewed this step as symbolic. She said: “At first, the municipality thought it would not have much impact locally and would remain a symbolic step. However, after the attacks, when the scale of the support became clear, it was understood that this was not symbolic. They were convinced when they saw that recognizing Rojava’s autonomous status could be a starting point to prevent massacres.”
Lausanne decision is a call to Switzerland
Koyuncu stated that recognizing Rojava’s status represents not only a guarantee for today but also for the future. She also said: “The autonomous system in Rojava represents a multicultural structure where many peoples live together. Protecting this status is important not only for today but also for the future. Lausanne is the fourth largest canton in Switzerland, and for it to adopt such a decision is of great importance for us. The municipal council did not only recognize Rojava’s status; the adopted motions also call on Switzerland to recognize Rojava’s political status at the federal level and to protect Rojava. In this sense, Switzerland must recognize Rojava’s autonomous status and take responsibility to prevent similar massacres from occurring.”
Lausanne has taken the first step
Koyuncu underlined that the diplomatic efforts to be carried out from now on are crucial to ensure that the decisions taken by the Lausanne City Council do not remain symbolic. She said: “As both a party and the municipal council, we will follow up on these decisions. At the same time, the Kurdish diaspora in Switzerland and Kurdish diplomacy must also take ownership of this process. The decision taken by Lausanne can serve as an example for other cities. Lausanne is a large city with a population of approximately 170,000. If Zurich, Geneva, and other cities adopt similar decisions, the confederation will have to take this into account. Around 150,000 Kurds live in Switzerland, which is not a negligible number. In this sense, not only Kurds but also solidarity networks must follow this process.”
Rojava revolution opened doors
Sevgi Koyuncu also criticized the stance taken by the United States and European Union countries and institutions during the Rojava massacre process. Koyuncu said: “We have seen the support given to the new Syrian regime. But during the attacks on Rojava, the peoples’ strong defense of Rojava forced these powers to step back. With the Rojava Revolution, a great sympathy for the Kurds emerged, and this sympathy opened doors for us. Today, everyone knows the Kurds more closely and becomes their supporter. In this sense, diplomatic efforts to achieve recognition of Rojava are now easier for us.”
We must be active in politics
Koyuncu stated that Kurds in Europe, especially Kurdish women, must take a more active role in European politics. She said: “Today, one of the groups that has shown the strongest support for Rojava in Europe has been women. This courage did not emerge on its own; it is the result of 40 years of Kurdish women’s struggle. The fact that I or other Kurdish women like me have entered politics in Europe did not happen spontaneously. What gave us strength is more than 40 years of women’s struggle. I came to Europe at the age of 28, learned the language, and entered politics. If I can do it, anyone can. We only need to show courage and value this field.”
Koyuncu also stressed that, especially under diaspora conditions, women must pass on the Kurdish language, culture, and also democratic and libertarian values to new generations. She said, “With the Rojava Revolution, the world has come to know the Kurds better. It is now in our hands to take this interest further.”