Kurds in detention – Aleppo and Damascus

Members and supporters of Democratic Union Party – PYD who are detained in the Central Aleppo prison will begin a hunger strike every Wednesday because of the oppression used against them by prison authorities, and because the Syria authority did not execute the Presidential amnesty in relation to political detainees, especially Decree 61 which has not been enacted since it was issued 30 May 2011.

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Ten Kurdish engineering students have been arrested in Aleppo. The following names have been confirmed: Read more

Syria:Kurds killed in the street in March 2004 + 2008 + 2010

This looks familiar, but it is a demonstration/funeral by Kurds in Qamishlo in 2008 after their people were killed in the street for celebrating Newroz – new year.

Kurds were also killed in the streets – 2004 in Qamishli, and 2010 in al-Raqqa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEu_LpzQ3oM Read more

Nasreddin Barhek died today

There was an assassination attempt on the life of Nasreddin Barhek on 13 February 2012, while he was driving to Deyrik to participate in a  demonstration. He is a member of the Political Bureau of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria – KDP. Many people believe he was killed by the Syria authorities.

He died of his injuries today. We send our condolences to his family, friends and political colleagues.

This is his funeral: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqoicrIHEc Read more

Kurdish Opposition of Syria speaks up

New Statesman: At the Palace of Westminster, leading Kurd figures call for a “united front” against the Assad regime.

UK-based representatives of Syria’s Kurdish opposition met on Wednesday, 15 February, in the House of Lords. They came, under the title of Struggle for Democratic Change in Syria, to discuss critically the current humanitarian situation and necessary preparations for a post-Assad Syria. Read more

All of the guns need to be silenced today.

At the heart of the conflict and search for resolutions in Syria is it right to focus just on the removal of Basher al-Assad and his team?  I first became involved in Syrian matters about 5 years ago, in relation to the terrible oppression of the Kurdish population. I know that this is a brutal and unyielding Government that found the doors increasingly open to international trade and positive relations despite its serious abuses of basic freedoms of these people.  It is not surprising that Bashar al-Assad thought he could do what he wanted without being penalised. Read more

Attempted assassination of KDP’s Nasreddin Barhek _ Two Kurdish conscripts kidnapped

There was an assassination attempt on the life Nasreddin Barhek 13 February 2012, while he was driving to Deyrik to participate in a  demonstration. He is a member of the Political Bureau of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria – KDP. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Firat news Agency report that on 2 February 2012 two Kurdish conscripts were kidnapped by armed groups in Khan al-Sabel – related to Maara al-Noman in Idlib province, while they were doing their miltary duty. They are Adnan Mohammed Bakr and Mustafa Khalil Mussa, both from Bulbula in Afrin.  There has been no news of their whereabouts since their disappearance.

UN human rights chief urges General Assembly to act now to protect Syrians

Briefing to the General Assembly Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights [Syria], 13 February 2012, New York

Saturday 11 February 2012

Sherzad Rashid of the Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party was buried today. The Syrian Observatory spoke to Muhadin Sheikh Ali from the Party for an opinion about who was responsible for his death.  He did not accuse anyone of the assassination, but he spoke of some sides trying to create problems in the Kurdish streets by pointing fingers. Our condolences go to his family.

Syrian Uprising 2011 Information Centre: SUMMARY (11/02/2012): At least 67 martyrs have fallen as Homs, Zabadani, Madaya and Rankous are under shelling. Assad’s forces attacked Musayfirah in Daraa province where 10 martyrs fell and dozens were arrested. Tafas and Tasil are also still under attack. Meanwhile, a Brigadier General, head of the military hospital, was assassinated by gunmen outside his house in Damascus. The video of the day is Aleppo – Afrin which shows the funeral of Dr. Shairzad Rashid, a murdered activist of the Kurdish Democratic Party. Syria – Saturday 11/02/2012 – Google Maps Read more

Erbil conference of Syrian Kurds abroad condemns violence against the people

KURDWATCH, February 1, 2012—From January 28 to 29, 2012, the Erbil conference of Syrian Kurds abroad took place in Erbil (Kurdistan/Iraq). The event was organized and financed by the Office of the President of the region Kurdistan/Iraq under the leadership of President Mas?ud Barzani. Representatives from the parties of the Kurdish Patriotic Conference in Syria as well as people they selected from abroad took part. In a closing statement, the participants supported the resolutions made by the Kurdish Patriotic Conference in Syria [further information on the resolutions] and condemned the Syrian government’s violence against the general public. Read more

UKBA OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE NOTE: SYRIA Nov 2011

3.6 Kurds

3.6.1 Applicants may make an asylum and/or human rights claim based on a fear of ill-treatment amounting to persecution at the hands of the State, on the basis of their ethnicity.

3.6.2 Treatment. Kurds make up approximately 9% of the Syrian population, and mostly live in the northeast part of the country, although large Kurdish communities also live in most of the big cities. Syria is a multi-ethnic state where many different ethnic groups and religions co-exist. However, demands for Kurdish minority rights continue to be interpreted
by the government as threats to the unity and security of the state, particularly in relation to Syrian Kurds. There are regular reports of arbitrary arrests of Kurds and deaths of Kurds in military service. The authorities arrested hundreds of Kurdish citizens during 2010, many of whom were prosecuted on charges of seeking to annex part of Syria to another
country. Read more

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