Women’s group condemns murder of Kurdish activists

Statement released Jan. 11 by IWA, a global anti-imperialist women’s alliance.

The International Women’s Alliance highly condemns the brutal premeditated murder of three Kurdish women activists yesterday in Paris. Sakine Cansiz, co-founder of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK); Fidan Dogan, Kurdistan National Congress representative; and young Kurdish activist Leyla Soylemez were all shot in the head in the early morning of Jan. 10 at the Kurdish Information Center in Paris, France.

The three women had been actively and courageously involved in the struggle for peace, freedom, democracy and self-determination of the Kurdish people for years. IWA calls on the government of France to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into their political assassination, and to ensure the quick delivery of justice to the three victims.

For years, the people of Kurdistan have been struggling for liberation and self-determination. The Kurdish people experience denial and violation of their most fundamental rights, including the right to speak their own language and their way of life, most especially in Turkey, where they are subjected to political repression and persecution.

IWA reiterates its support to the Kurdish people and their struggle for peace, freedom, democracy and self-determination and calls on its members and allies to condemn the murder of Cansiz, Dogan and Soylemez, as well as the continued political repression and persecution of the Kurdish people.