Kurdish residents in London took to the streets on December 1 with thousands of supporters, protesting against criminalisation of the city鈥檚 Kurdish community following recent arrests targeting the in Haringey. The demonstration, organised by the Kurdish People鈥檚 Democratic Assembly of London, drew attention to increasing pressure on Kurdish cultural and political spaces in Britain.
Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans calling for solidarity and an end to the unjust targeting of Kurdish individuals and organisations. The Assembly extended heartfelt thanks to the community and friends of the Kurds for their unwavering support, posting 鈥淭ogether, we are stronger!鈥 on X.
The protest action coincided with the launch of a hunger strike in custody by writer聽, one of the individuals arrested in the operation targeting the KCC. Poyraz has previously endured more than 21 years in a Turkish prison for Kurdish activism, and his family were reportedly subjected to during the raid on their London home.
Supporters argue the crackdown in Haringey highlights the disproportionate actions of the British authorities against Kurdish individuals, and question the motives behind the increasing surveillance and police intervention, which reflect a broader pattern of criminalisation targeting Kurdish activists globally.
British mainstream media outlets reported widely on the London protests, reflecting both an official narrative and critical voices from the Kurdish community. The concentrated on the arrests at the community centre, quoting the authorities on the focus on counter-terrorism, but also noting community concerns about overreach.
The covered the protests alongside statements from Kurdish community representatives who criticised the heavy handedness of the law enforcement officers and drew attention to broader patterns targeting Kurdish activism, while and included statements from authorities defending the raids.
The demonstration is part of a series of solidarity actions, as activists continue to demand justice and respect for cultural autonomy, as well as freedom for those detained.
[Reprinted from .]