COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Tens of thousands of people demonstrated over the weekend in various European cities, condemning the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) for attacks on Kurdish Yezidis in Shingal.
In Copenhagen, many Kurdish organizations and parties with roots in Turkey, Iraq and Iran together staged a procession and demonstration, which began with a moment of silence to honor Kurds killed by the fighting, followed by the Kurdish national anthem, “Ey Raqib.”
The demonstration, which included some ethnic Danes, ended outside parliament, with slogans calling for an end to Yezidi killings and praising the Kurdish forces fighting the IS armies.
Former Copenhagen mayor, Villo Sigurdsson, told the gathered in a speech that more media attention needed to be focused on Shingal, which Yezidis have deserted en masse since an IS takeover of the town about a fortnight ago.
"The whole world is in turmoil over Syria, Gaza, Ukraine. But for us one of the biggest problems is the fight against the religious fanatics, the struggle for democracy, human rights and freedom of speech, that's why we are here," Sigurdsson said.
Denmark's former foreign minister Holger K. Nielsen in his speech mentioned the Kurdish groups fighting IS in Syria and Iraq for the last two years, and criticized Western silence. He also emphasized that IS’ actions do not represent Islam.
"ISIS has nothing to do with Islam. They kill minorities in Iraq, but it is not Islam," said Nielsen, who also praised the Danish Government for assisting the US government in the fight against the militants.
"ISIS’ ambition of a caliphate in the region is deadly -- even for us,” he said. “Till now it is mainly Kurds who have taken up the fight and they need all the support they can get,” Nielsen added.
“It is a disgrace that the international community has responded so weakly, and there is every reason to appreciate the American effort," he said, referring to continuing US airstrikes on IS positions.
Nicolaj Villumsen, a Danish MP, called on his government to support the Kurds and punish Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States for allegedly "supporting and funding ISIS."
He added that Copenhagen should stop labeling the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) a terrorist organization. "PKK is now saving tens of thousands of Yezidis from death on Shingal Mountain and negotiating peace with the Turkish government,” Villumsen emphasized.
In the German city of Hanover, thousands attended protests with banners and flags of various Kurdish parties, and some supporters carrying pictures of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. They included Yezidis, Muslim Kurds with roots in the different parts of Kurdistan, as well as members of the leftist Turkish parties, the German left-wing parties and some Armenians and Assyrians.
"We Yezidis have never killed anyone in the name of God or destroyed anyone's property,” said Kocek Meran, who said that Yezidis only want peace. “But we are facing such things today: nearly 10 children die every day due to hunger or thirst,” he claimed, referring to conditions in Shingal.
Many of the demonstrators have family in Shingal and are therefore affected by the conflict, among them Douzvin Khalaf, who voiced displeasure with IS. “This is genocide and that is unacceptable," she said.
At a protest in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, hundreds gathered outside parliament with banners condemning the IS.
Flags of various Kurdish parties were seen, as well as pictures of Deniz Firat, a journalist killed in an IS attack in Makhmour while covering militant attacks on Christian towns and villages.
In a speech, MP Fredrik Malm stressed the importance of the international community and Sweden’s military support to the Kurds against ISIS.
"Kurdish sons and daughters are waging war against ISIS, but it is not only their struggle. We must support them," said Malm.
Another MP, Metin Rhawi, said that as an Assyrians he knew about massacres and persecution.
"Today we are all Yezidis. We live together in the world and first of all we need to show respect for human values. Which religion or ethnicity, you belong to, is not important," Rhawi said, stressing that IS has nothing to do with Islam.
Sissela Nordling Blanko, from the Feminist Initiative, said: "Kurdistan is burning, the genocide continues and the world just looks on. The Kurds need international support to stop this."
