Letters from the Prison to the Future: Abdullah Öcalan on economy
2024-10-09 18:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Friends Meeting House, Brighton, Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AF, United Kingdom
“Capitalism is not economy at all but an external power monopoly that imposes itself on economy.”
Kurdish political prisoner Abdullah Öcalan has been held in almost total isolation for 25 years by the Turkish state, but his ideas have inspired a revolution based on real democracy, women’s liberation and ecology in North-East Syria and beyond.
Join us to discuss Öcalan’s understanding of economy and the system of cooperatives and unions his ideas have inspired in North-East Syria, hear from the #Water4Rojava campaign about their work to demilitarise the vital Alouk water station, currently under Turkish occupation, and share food.
9 October marks both the anniversary of the start of Öcalan’s capture in 1998 and also Turkey’s invasion of Syria, bombing and capture of the Alouk water station in 2019. This event forms part of an international call for events between 1–10 October to draw attention to Öcalan’s extreme isolation. There has been no contact with him by anyone including family or lawyers for 3.5 years.
#FreeÖcalan: you​ can’t imprison ideas!
Contact: brightonkurdsolidarity@riseup.net
More information on the campaign to #FreeÖcalan: https://freedomforocalan.org/

KCC Solidarity Demo
2024-11-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Kurdish Community Centre London, Kurdish Community Centre, 11 Portland Gardens, London, United Kingdom
🚨 Solidarity presence urgently needed at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, London 🚨
Following a dawn raid this morning at the Kurdish Community Centre (KCC) in Portland gardens, Haringey Green Lanes by hundreds of police, as well as raids and arrests of six Kurdish community leaders at their homes, there is ongoing police presence at the KCC. The community are urgently calling on supporters to head there in solidarity with those who were brutally arrested and against the repression by the British state. The KCC is currently being occupied by cops who said they plan to search the community centre for up to two weeks.
Supporters are gathering outside the KCC to protest the criminalisation of the Kurdish community and demand withdrawal of police presence.
Please forward to all channels!

27ê Mijdarê Pîroz Be (Liverpool demo)
2024-11-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Pagoda Arts, Liverpool, Padoga Arts, 65 Henry St, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Bristol demo in solidarity with the KCC and Kurdistan
2024-11-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Castle Park Bristol, Castle Park by St Peter's Church, Bristol, United Kingdom

Youth Street Govend Night
2024-12-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Kurdish Community Centre London, Kurdish Community Centre, 11 Portland Gardens, London, United Kingdom

#HandsOffKurds Sheffield Demo
2024-12-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Sheffield Train Station, Sheaf Street, Sheffield, S1 2BP
🚨📢🚨
On 27th November, the Kurdish Community Centre KCC was violently raided and occupied by the police including assaults on members of the Kurdish community and still remains under police occupation.

Furthermore, in dawn raids on the homes of members of the Kurdish community, 6 members of the community were arrested and still now remain detained in custody.

All of this was conducted under the mask of “anti-terror” legislation but the real aim is to silence and repress all peoples organising for liberation and justice.

We will come together to show our solidarity with the Kurdish people against this ongoing criminalisation by the British state.

We demand the immediate release of the imprisoned friends and the immediate return of the community centre to the Kurdish community.

Join us to show the British state we do not accept these actions.

💛❤️💚✌️🔥✌️💛❤️💚

#HandsOffKurds London Demo
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00 | Woodgreen Civic Centre, London, Woodgreen Civic Centre, 255 High Road, London, N22 8LE, United Kingdom
Release Kurdish Prisoners and Activists!
Stop Occupying the Kurdish Community Centre

Liverpool Demo
2024-12-08 14:00 - 18:00 | Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool, Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Call out!
We are with the spirit of Kobanê
The fascist occupying Turkish state and its weapons are attacking the city of Rojava. This is an announcement to all our patriot people, that with the spirit of success we will resist wherever the fascist Turkish state attacks.
Demonstration
Date: 08/12/2024
Place: Liverpool lime street
Time: 14:00

Solidari-Tea with Kurdistan / Solidari-Te gyda Kurdistan 💚💛❤️
2024-12-10 12:00 - 19:00 | Utility Cardiff, Utility (Unit 12) at the Capitol Centre, Queen St, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

DefendRojava Demonstration - Manchester
2024-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Grosvenor Square, Mancester, All Saints Park, Grosvenor Square, Manchester, M15 6BH, United Kingdom

DefendRojava Demonstration - Liverpool
2024-12-15 14:00 - 16:30 | Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool, Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station, Liverpool, United Kingdom

'Introductory session on the Kurdish freedom movement' - Sheffield
2024-12-15 16:00 - 19:00 | Kurdish Community Centre Sheffield, 2 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT, United Kingdom

🚨 Kurdistan, Solidarity and Our Common Future 🚨
2025-01-19 10:30 - 17:00 | Kurdish Community Centre London, Kurdish Community Centre, 11 Portland Gardens, London, United Kingdom
Please join us for a one day education and solidarity event at the Kurdish Community Centre in London, in response to recent attempts to intimidate and marginalise this community hub.
🗓️ 19 January 2025, 10.30am-5pm
📍 Kurdish Community Centre, 11 Portland Gardens, London, N4 1HU
Speakers to be announced
For more information, and to register, please visit the Eventbrite page: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kurdistan-solidarity-and-our-common-future-tickets-1132539759909

London Solidarity Demo
2026-01-19 21:00 - 22:30 | London King’s Cross Station, London, N1C 4AP, United Kingdom
The Kurdish people in Rojava are facing an imminent and grave threat of genocide. Jihadist gangs aligned with the Damascus government, together with ISIS cells, are carrying out brutal attacks against the Kurdish population. In the face of these genocidal assaults, we call on all our people and all friends of justice and freedom to act with urgency, to raise their voices, and to stand together in organized solidarity in the streets and public squares.

Stand with Rojava (Edinburgh)
2026-01-19 22:00 - 23:30 | American Embassy, Edinburgh, American Embassy, 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH7 5BW, United Kingdom
Kurds in Syria are under attack! Civilians are in danger — we cannot keep quiet!
Support the Kurdish people of Rojava — threatened by ISIS and the Syrian regime.
Peaceful protest · Show solidarity!

Stand with Kurds (Edinburgh)
2026-01-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH99 1SP, United Kingdom
We call upon all community members, activists, and allies to join us in a mass demonstration to support the Kurdish people. From the revolution in Rojava to the resistance in Rojhilat, the struggle for self-determination and human rights continues. Let us raise our voices against oppression and show the world that Kurdistan is not alone.

Justice for Kurdistan (London)
2026-01-20 13:00 - 14:30 | 10 Downing Street, 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom
Urgent Call 🚨
We call on all Kurds and everyone who supports human rights across all British cities to join a demonstration in London:

Where: No. 10 Downing Street
When: Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 1:00 PM

The Kurds in Rojava are facing a real threat from terrorists, including massacres, killing of prisoners, looting of homes, and destruction of communities.
This is a call for the UK government to take immediate action to protect civilians.
Your voice matters. Silence is complicity.
#ProtectRojava #ProtectKurds #StopMassacres #HumanRights

https://kurdistansolidarity.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/London-Parliament-20.01.26.mp4

Liverpool Stands with Kurds!
2026-01-20 17:00 - 18:30 | London Road Tesco, Liverpool, Tesco, London Rd, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Edinburgh - Stand With Rojava
2026-01-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Edinburgh, 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BW
Tuesday 20th January, 7pm
US Consulate General, 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BW
Kurds in Syria face serious threats after attacks and escalation! Civilians are in grave danger – We cannot keep silent!
Gather tonight to support the people of Rojava – under threat from ISIS and the Syrian regime!

Emergency Demo Outside UK Foreign Office (Whitehall)
2026-01-21 11:00 - 12:00 | UK Foreign Office, London, Whitehall, London, United Kingdom
JOIN AN EMERGENCY DEMO OUTSIDE UK FOREIGN OFFICE (WHITEHALL) THIS WEDNESDAY 11am!
STOP WAR AGAINST THE KURDS!!!
CALLED BY KURDISH ASSEMBLY UK
“Long live the Rojava Resistance!”
JOIN THE GLOBAL RESPONSE
STAND WITH THE KURDS IN SOLIDARITY

Stop War Against Kurds (Cardiff)
2026-01-21 11:00 - 12:30 | Senedd Cymru (Cardiff), Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, Cardiff, Wales, CF99 1SN, United Kingdom
The barbaric remnants of the ISIS mentality, Colani and the HTS gangs, have launched a major attack with the planning and support of the international system, the Gulf countries and Turkey, in order to carry out a genocide against our people in **Rojava**. As of this moment, our people are facing the danger of a major massacre. In order not to remain silent during this critical process; we call on all our people, our friends, and everyone who considers themselves to stand on the side of humanity to express their reaction through democratic means in front of the Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru.
https://kurdistansolidarity.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Cardiff-1-21.01.26.mp4
https://kurdistansolidarity.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CArdiff-speech-21.01.26.mp4

Norwich Stand With Kurds!
2026-01-21 11:00 - 12:30
Urgent Demonstration – Support the Kurds in Rojava!
Wednesday 21st January, 11am
Norwich Train Station, Station Approach, Thorpe Rd, NR1 1EF
Defend Rojava!

Brighton Solidarity Demo
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:30 | Churchill Square, Brighton, Churchill Square, Western Rd, Brighton, BN1 2TE, United Kingdom
Dear Kurdish community members and comrades,
Genocide attempts, displacement of hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people, and stealing of reservoir territories are happening.
Democratic protest:
Wednesday / Çarşamba 12:00
Churchill Square
Western Road
Brighton BN1 2TE, UK

Dem u Beyanî baş,
Gelêmeyî bi rumet,
Wekî ahahîya we pê heye êrîşên li ser civakameyî Rojava kom kujî u koçberî xwera hanşye!
Em hîşyarîya nirxên welat parêzî u helwest girtinê pêk bînîn.
Ser vê esasê Roj’a Çarşemî’yê li ber Brighton Churchill Square’ê saet 12:00’de dest bi çalakîya girseyî bikin.
Western Road
Brighton
2TE UK
England

Sheffield Stand with Kurds
2026-01-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA, United Kingdom

Newcastle #DefendRojava
2026-01-21 15:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 21st January, 3pm
Newcastle City Centre, Haymarket
Together, with one united voice, we raise our voices for freedom, justice, and human rights, standing against oppression and dictatorial rule.
Together, with one voice: Resistance is Life.

Leeds Solidarity Demo
2026-01-21 17:00 - 18:30 | Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds, LS1 3AA, United Kingdom

Manchester - We Say No To Genocide!
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:30
Wednesday 21st January, 6pm
Media City, Salford Quays
ACTION FOR KURDS
British Press: Break the Silence! Report the Massacres!
The Syrian state calls for genocide against the people – WE SAY NO!

Stop War Against Kurds (Wolverhampton)
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Wolverhampton City Centre, Queen Square, Wolverhampton, WV1 1TE, United Kingdom

ONLINE Info Call: What is happening in NE Syria and How to Help
2026-01-21 20:00 - 21:00
Wednesday 21st January, 8pm – 9pm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87025759993
Kurdistan Solidarity Network is hosting a public info-call about the situation in Rojava and what we can do to support to communities of North and East Syria, who are facing brutal attacks from the Syrian Transitional Government forces and the jihadist militias it has mobilised.
We will hear from journalists and activists currently in Rojava, as well as hearing what we can do to defend Rojava from the UK.

Take action
What can we do from Britain in solidarity with Rojava?

Stay informed about what’s going on and how to take action: Join whatsapp groups where we share information and mobilise resistance:

Defend Kurdistan announcements-only group: https://bit.ly/DefendKurdistan
Defend Kurdistan discussion and chat group: https://bit.ly/DKdiscuss
Women Defend Rojava UK: https://bit.ly/WDR_UK

Occupy and Blockade. Organise actions against arms companies and the businesses that drive the military-industrial complex! See map of weapons factories in Britain that are supplying Turkey here.
Join the People’s Caravan to Kobane. People from all over Europe are travelling to Kobane to defend the revolution. For more information see their Instagram or contact via Signal (caravankobane.15 or +49 1521 478023) or email (kobanecaravan@proton.me).
Attend and organise demonstrations and events to raise awareness. Find a list of demonstrations and events happening at https://kurdistansolidarity.net/events/. Send photos to the Defend Kurdistan WhatsApp or email hello@kurdistansolidarity.net so we can share with people in Rojava.
Write and Share public statements. Condemn the actions of the Syrian Transitional Government and show your solidarity with the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Solidarity statements are being compiled here.
Donate to Frontline Groups. Donate to Kurdish Red Crescent, the only on-the-ground emergency relief forces via paypal.me/heyvasorakurdistane or Free Women’s Foundation of Syria (Weqfa Jina Azad a Sûriyê) via IBACS (Donation account: Kurdistanhilfe e.V. / Keyword: NOTHILFE / Hamburger Sparkasse / IBAN [REDACTED] / BIC HASPDEHHXXX )
Write to your MP. Demand that they apply Immediate political pressure to stop the attacks, end direct and indirect support for HTS, ISIS and Turkey’s actions in Syria, take a clear position against the ISIS threat, provide urgent humanitarian assistance and instigate international monitoring and accountability. And crucially to work towards the political recognition of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) for a lasting solution. You can find a template letter or email here.
Sign the petitions. Petition to UK Government coming soon here and from academics here.

Tools and Resources like leaflets, posters and documentaries are listed on the Kurdistan Solidarity Website here.
Keep up to date with ongoing support join the Defend Kurdistan UK WhatsApp chat here
Subscribe to the KSN *announcements only* email list, send an email to:
kurdishsolidaritynetwork-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Follow the RiseUp4Rojava and WomenDefendRojava pages:

RiseUp4Rojava (central accounts)
Instagram: riseup.4rojava
Telegram: t.me/RiseUp4
X: @RISEUP4R0JAVA
WomenDefendRojava (central accounts)
Instagram: women_defend_rojava
RojavaEng Telegram: t.me/womendefend
X: @WomenDefendRoj1

Stay Informed
Misinformation and narratives of an ethnic war are part of the strategies employed by Turkey and the Syrian Transitional Government/HTS forces. Here are a set of reliable news sources.

For latest news from the resistance, visit Firat News Agency (in multiple languages). There are also good articles on The Amargi website.
You can find in-depth dossiers and updates about the sitation of women on the website of
Kongra Star, the umbrella women’s movement in the region.
For general backround information on the self-administration in Northern and Eastern Syria
and for recent developments about the political situation in the region, visit the Rojava
Information Center or look through the resources on the here and here.
To read a geopolitical context analysis, we recommend this analysis by Ronahi – Youth Center for Public Relations – and this analysis by the Academy of Democratic Modernity.
For a timeline of the last year of events leading up to the events this month see this article and for a short explainer of why this matters see Carne Ross’s substack.
In Kurdish, Turkish, and Arabic, you can follow the channels and social media of JinTV,
Mezopotamya Ajansi, Sterk TV, Medya Haber, and Ronahi TV. Some of the programs are also available in English.

Some resources shared during the call that are relevant to the current situation:

“Kurdish Blood for Arab Lands: Prospects for Raqqa” by Mehmet Aksoy
“Berxwedan Jiyane: The Resistance of Tishreen” – A documentary made a year ago by an internationalist volunteer in Rojava, brings to life the spirit of resistance of the civilian blockades organised by communities in north and east Syria
Al Sharaa (Jolani) the president of Syria had a $10 million bounty on him less than 2 months before becoming president https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07gv3j818ko
A video of the statue of the woman fighter being torn down in Tabqa
A video about Jinwar, the women’s village in Rojava – Jinwar really exemplifies a lot of what the Rojava Revolution has been building
The last words of Sehid Deniz, herself half Kurdish, half Arab, who fought until her last bullet in the resistance of Aleppo and her corpse was thrown off a building by the HTS forces:
“The enemies—those who, with a jihadist ideology, pose a great danger to the entire world and the peoples of the region, especially to women—have surrounded us with heavy tanks. A very large number of gangs are attacking us. Up to now we have resisted them in many different ways, but now we are using the ammunition we have with caution so that it does not run out. It is necessary that all our friends and our people know that we will fight until our last breath, no matter what happens. Calls for surrender are being made to us, but just as Zarîfe and Besêyan threw themselves from the cliffs of Dersim, as Rindêxan ended his life at the Malabadi Bridge and gave meaning to life, we too will never take a step back from resistance.
Now each and every one of us has a bomb with us. If we know that our last ammunition is exhausted, we will—five comrades together—carry out a self-sacrificing action against the occupying enemy who has committed every kind of atrocity against our people and our comrades. Whatever happens, nothing is more important than protecting the honor of our people. Those who do not face death at the decisive moment cannot become the breath of a free life.”

Some common terms and definitions:

HTS = Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham, the al-Qaeda offshoot that now holds power in the Syrian Transitional Government
Daesh = the Arabic name for ISIS (Islamic State)
Bakur = North Kurdistan (in Turkey)
Bashur = South Kurdistan (in Iraq)

Exeter: Urgent Protest for Rojava
2026-01-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6RT
12pm, Thursday 22nd January, 2026
Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6RT
Defend Rojava!
Stop the Attacks on Kurds!
Stand Against ISIS and Its Allies!

https://kurdistansolidarity.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Exeter-Protest-22.1.26-4.mp4
