Freedom for Ocalan Peace in Kurdistan TUC 2017 Fringe Meeting, Tuesday 12th September, 12.45 The Regent Room, The Grand Hotel, Brighton

TUC Kurdish Struggle Leaflet_5

Speakers

Chair – Simon Dubbins, Unite the Union Director of International

Christine Blower – NUT International Secretary

Michelle Allison – Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) women representative

Stephen Smellie – Branch Secretary, UNISON South Lanarkshire

Doug Nicholls – General Secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions

Elif Sarican – Kurdistan Students Union

All TUC delegates and friends welcome

Buffet lunch and refreshments provided

Turkey’s policy of war against the Kurds in Turkey and Rojava

Turkey is in the throes of massive repression with President Erdogan having ordered the arrest and detention of hundreds of thousands of opposition politicians, journalists, trade unionists, human rights activists and many, many others. He has also declared a brutal war on the Kurdish population and undertaken massive military actions – murdering thousands and destroying cities.

However, despite the repression democratic forces and the Kurdish population continue to resist. At the same time with ISIS on the verge of being defeated in Syria and a referendum on Kurdish independence in Iraq looming, the Kurds are in a pivotal role to help define a new tolerant inclusive and democratic Middle East.