Visitors flock to Justice Vigil in Paris following shootings

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Paris gunman targeted foreigners

The gunman, a retired train driver, “was clearly targeting foreigners”, adding however that it was “not certain” that the man was aiming to kill “Kurds in particular”.

Darmanin said: “We yet don’t know his exact motives.”

There was also no information so far on links of the suspect with ultra-right activists, he said.

The man is a member of a shooting sports club “and has several registered weapons”, the minister said.

The Kurdish community centre, called Centre Ahmet Kaya, is used by a charity that organises concerts and exhibitions, and helps the Kurdish diaspora in the Paris region.

Protestors clashes with French riot police officers following a statement by French Interior Minister at the site where several shots were fired along rue d’Enghien in the 10th arrondissement, in Paris on December 23, 2022.

Three people were killed and three injured in a shooting along rue d’Enghien in central Paris on December 23, 2022, police and prosecutors said, adding that the shooter, in his 60s, had been arrested.

The gunman was described by police sources as “Caucasian”, of French nationality, and was linked to two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021.

“The Kurds in France have been the target of an odious attack in the heart of Paris,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter.

Far-right attack?

The gunman, named as William M. in the French media, had already been linked to two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021.

The retired train driver was initially convicted over the first case in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, but freed on appeal, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau told reporters without giving further details.

In the second case, he was charged with racist violence after allegedly attacking migrants sleeping in tents in the Bercy area of the city in December 2021, Beccuau added.

At least two migrants were stabbed, a police source told AFP at the time.

“As for a racist motive for this case, this will obviously form part of our investigations which are starting now,” she said.

The shooter was released on bail recently and suffered facial injuries on Friday, requiring hospital treatment.

Authorities are likely to face questions in the coming days over why the gunman had been recently released on bail given his criminal record.

He suffered facial injuries on Friday and had been taken to hospital for treatment.

France’s specialised anti-terror prosecutor’s office has not taken over the case so far, indicating that the triple murder is being treated as regular violent crime at this stage.

The far right seems to have struck again. With deadly consequences,” senior left-wing MP Clementine Autain wrote on Twitter. “When will those at the head of the state take this terrorist threat seriously?”

But the Kurdish Democratic Council of France (CDK-F), which uses the cultural centre as its headquarters, said in a statement that it considered the shooting to be a “terror attack”

Asked whether any of the victims in Friday’s shooting had links to the Kurdish PKK movement, designated a terrorist organisation by the EU and others, Darmanin said they appeared not to have been known to France’s security services.

Some members of the Kurdish centre could be seen weeping and hugging each other for comfort after the attack.

“It’s starting again. You aren’t protecting us. We’re being killed!” one of them cried to nearby police.

Darmanin said he had ordered tighter security at Kurdish meeting places in France, as well at Turkish diplomatic offices.

Officials were to meet to evaluate the likelihood of any further threats to the Kurdish community in Paris or elsewhere in France, he said.

Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne called the shooting an “odious attack” and sent her “full support to the victims and their loved ones.”

Following the shooting there were clashes between protesters and police near the scene. Kurdish groups have also called for a demonstration at Place de la Republique on Saturday.

Demonstrators threw objects at police while voicing fury over an attack they saw as deliberate and which French security services had done too little to prevent.

Several cars parked in the area as well as police vehicles had their windows smashed as protesters threw bricks.

Protestors clashes with French riot police officers following a statement by French Interior Minister at the site where several shots were fired along rue d’Enghien in the 10th arrondissement, in Paris on December 23, 2022.

Three people were killed and three injured in a shooting in central Paris on December 23, 2022, police and prosecutors said, adding that the shooter, in his 60s, had been arrested. The motives of the gunman remain unclear, with two of the four injured left in a serious condition, the French officials said.

Kurds in France

Interior Minister Darmanin has previously warned of the threat of far right groups in France.

In one of several cases in recent years, 13 people from far-right political circles were ordered to stand trial last month for allegedly plotting to attack President Emmanuel Macron.Some members of the Kurdish centre could be seen weeping and hugging each other for comfort after the attack.

“It’s starting again. You aren’t protecting us. We’re being killed!” one of them cried to nearby police.

Often described as the world’s largest people without a state, the Kurds are an ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran

The Kurdish Democratic Council of France underlined that the shooting coincided with the 10th anniversary of the murder of three female Kurdish militants in Paris.
A Turkish man was charged with the assassinations on January 9, 2013, but he died in custody before being tried.

The victims’ families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths of the three women, who were shot in the head and neck, and at France for failing to investigate properly.

“The Kurdish Democratic Council of France condemns in the strongest possible terms this vile terrorist attack which occurred following multiples threats from Turkey, an ally of Daesh,” it said, using an alternative name for the Islamic State terror group.

Turkey launches regular military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — a designated terrorist group by the European Union and the United States — as well as Kurdish groups it accuses of being allies.

Kurds have been fighting for INDEPENDENCE since their homeland was stolen from them and divided 100 years ago

Link to Article and Photos:
https://www.thelocal.fr/20221223/odious ... ster-says/

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Visitors flock to Justice Vigil in Paris

The Justice Vigil launched in protest at the Paris killings continues. Numerous people and institution representatives visited the vigil today

Three Kurdish activists were killed and three others injured in the armed attack on 23 December on the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre, a Kurdish restaurant and a Kurdish-run barbershop on Rue d'Enghien in the tenth arrondissement of Paris.

The victims of the targeted attack are Evîn Goyî (Emine Kara), a member of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council, YPJ (Women’s Defense Units) veteran in the fight against ISIS and leading representative of the Kurdish women's movement, musician Mîr Perwer (M. Şirin Aydın) and long-time activist Abdurrahman Kızıl.

While the forensic medicine procedure for the three victims has not been finalized yet, the Justice Vigil launched at Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre continues. A number of people and representatives of civil organizations visited the vigil today.

Ahmet Kaya's family, Sakine Cansız's brother Metin Cansız, French artists, SYKP, MLKP, SKP and Partizan Europe representatives, Paris Association of Artisans, Peace Academics, Argentinean representatives and Tamil People representatives are among today’s visitors who were informed about recent developments with regard to the triple murder.

Artist Farqin delivered a short speech about Mir Perwer.

A protest will be staged under the leadership of the Kurdish cultural movement TEV-ÇAND in front of the French Ministry of Culture today at 14.00.

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Tribute to Paris attack victims

Kurdish artists react with horror and anger to the attack in Paris. The women's cultural movement Kevana Zêrîn remembers the murdered musician Mîr Perwer and calls for resistance

The women's cultural movement Kevana Zêrîn calls for resistance after the attack in the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre which left three dead and three injured in Paris. In the massacre, long-time revolutionary Evîn Goyî (Emine Kara), musician Mîr Perwer (M. Şirin Aydın) and patriot Abdurrahman Kızıl were shot dead

Kevana Zêrîn released a statement after the attack pointing out that the cultural and physical campaign of destruction against the Kurdish people has now long gone beyond Kurdistan.

"For us, the perpetrators are certain: these murders were carried out after ten years at the same place and with the same method. The AKP/MHP, as a mafia-like Gladio organization, wants to delay its inevitable end and intensifies its dirty attacks against Kurds. However, with these attacks, it is accelerating its collapse.

It is certainly no coincidence that the latest attack in Paris was carried out ten years after the 9 January 2013 murder of three Kurdish women revolutionaries. The attacks on Kurds who seek asylum in Europe due to persecution by the fascist AKP/MHP regime are taking place through middlemen," stated the Kurdish Women's Cultural Movement.

The statement continued, “The fascism of the Turkish state knows no borders and is trying to wipe out Kurdish resistance and especially rebellious women all over the world. As the women's cultural movement Kevana Zêrîn, we condemn the bloody attack on the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre.

If the French state is not itself an accomplice, it must expose and accuse the murders and those behind them. The government of France must realise that sooner or later it will be indicted in history and in the conscience of the people as long as it does not investigate and condemn the murders.

We bow with great respect to the artist Mîr Perwer and his two murdered companions, and we remember all Kurds and women who do not hesitate to pay any price. We call on all artists, especially women artists, to resist in the squares until the massacre at the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre is resolved."

Mîr Perwer was a native of the province of Muş and had not long lived in France, where he had applied for asylum. He had to leave his homeland due to political persecution by the Turkish state.

He was active in the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and was therefore sentenced to prison by the Turkish judiciary on "terror charges". Most recently, he tried to catch up with his wife and their two children. Mîr Perwer belonged to the Kurdish cultural movement TEV-ÇAND. After the murder, many Kurdish musicians shared videos of Mîr Perwer and commemorated him.

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Intelligence technology blown up

In Paris, police blew up a container of suspected intelligence technology near the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre. While police say they feared it was a bomb, the media speak of evidence destruction

Just one street away from the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre in Paris, where Evîn Goyî, executive council member of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union), was shot dead on 23 December 2022, along with Kurdish musician Mîr Perwer and long-time activist Abdurrahman Kızıl, a vehicle carrying intelligence equipment was discovered during a routine police check at around 8.30 pm last Friday.

Instead of examining the vehicle, it was assumed to be a bomb and the car was blown up. The neighbourhood had been cordoned off beforehand. A device equipped with a Wi-Fi router could be seen in the vehicle. After the blast, it was determined that it was not a bomb. Images of the device suggest that it may be an IMSI catcher, used to intercept mobile phone traffic and Wi-Fi in the area.

It appears to be intelligence equipment. For the police, the case seems to be closed as it was not a bomb. However, according to Le Parisien, the intelligence service was called in because the device was an information-gathering device, which also points to an IMSI catcher or similar device.

In view of the alleged intelligence technology, however, many speak of a cover-up and destruction of evidence in connection with the attack of 23 December. Among other things, an IMSI catcher can be used to determine which mobile phone is in which radio cell. There is strong suspicion that it was not a racist lone perpetrator but the Turkish secret service that was behind the murders in Paris.

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Kurds participate in farewell

Three Kurdish activists were killed and three others injured in the armed attack on 23 December on the Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre, a Kurdish restaurant and a Kurdish-run barbershop on Rue d'Enghien in the tenth arrondissement of Paris

The victims of the targeted attack are Evîn Goyî (Emine Kara), a member of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council, YPJ (Women’s Defense Units) veteran in the fight against ISIS and leading representative of the Kurdish women's movement, musician Mîr Perwer (M. Şirin Aydın) and long-time activist Abdurrahman Kızıl.

While the Kurdish community in France will bid farewell to the three martyrs on 3 January 2023, the largest umbrella organization of the Kurdish Diaspora in Germany, KON-MED, released a written statement urging Kurds to participate in the farewell tomorrow:

“Three of our friends were martyred in a terrorist attack in Paris on December 23. We know that this massacre, which took place in the same place ten years after the triple murder of three Kurdish women, was no coincidence. The Turkish State is clearly committing massacres against the Kurdish people in front of the eyes of the whole world.

If the French judiciary had revealed the triple murder in Paris in 2013, the massacre on December 23 would not have occurred. We know very well that these massacres were carried out by the Turkish State. There are cliques within the French State that were partners in this massacre. The French judiciary should immediately expose all these dirty relations and bring those responsible to account.

The reaction of the European Union to all the fascist and murderous policies of Erdoğan remains weak. While sanctions should be introduced immediately against such a fascist leader, Turkey could carry out a massacre in the heart of Europe thanks to the dirty relations they have established. This is shameful for humanity. The Turkish State, which pursues all kinds of fascist policies against the Kurdish people in Turkey and in Kurdistan, is now able to kill the Kurdish people in the heart of Europe. This shows that the relationship established with the EU states is decisive.

These massacres against the Kurds cannot be thought of independently of the criminalization of Kurdish institutions in Europe. The policies to criminalize Kurdish institutions, particularly in Germany, should be ended. Arrests and repression policies against Kurdish politicians in Germany are part of these policies. German authorities should put an end to the terrorist acts of Turkey in Europe, rather than pursue these policies.

We know that there are assassination lists to eliminate Kurdish politicians living in Germany. Rather than cracking down on the Kurdish people, the German state should reveal the plannings of the massacres that the Turkish government wants to carry out in Germany and expose all the dirty relations to the public.

As the Kurdish people, we will definitely bring those responsible for these massacres to account. The French judiciary should stay away from attitudes that may disturb the public conscience, French society in particular.

We will hold the killers of our martyrs accountable through all democratic and legal methods. We urge all Kurdish people living in Germany and Paris to fulfil their duties towards our martyrs. We will send off the bodies of our three martyrs to Kurdistan on Tuesday (Jan. 3). Let us bid farewell to our martyrs in the strongest way possible to cherish their memory.”

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Police detain Kurds on way to Paris

5 people, who were travelling from London to attend the commemoration ceremony for the 3 Kurdish activists murdered in Paris, were detained by the British policr

Executives of the Kurdish Community Centre and the Kurdish Women's Movement, who departed from London to attend the commemoration ceremony in Paris, were detained by the British Police in Folkestone Euro Tunnel.

The British police stopped the vehicle carrying Kurdish journalist Diren Dicle Erden, London Kurdish People's Assembly Co-Chairs Türkan Budak, Baran Kasakol, British Kurdish People's Assembly member Ercan Akbal and Kurdish Women's Movement spokeswoman Birsen Poyraz on the grounds of "terrorism suspicion" after the passport control.

The Kurds were detained, and all their belongings were confiscated after the vehicle was thoroughly searched.

The British police asked the detained Kurds why they wanted to attend the funeral of three Kurds killed in France, as well as what the Kurds expect from Britain and France, “Do you support the protests?”, “Why were the Kurds targeted?”, “Did the Turkish intelligence carry out this attack in Paris?”.

The Kurds were released after more than 6 hours of detention.

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German police Kurds going to Paris

In Aachen, dozens of buses from Germany were stopped and checked as they travelled to the large-scale demonstration in Paris against the deadly attacks of 2013 and December 2022. Several people are said to have been banned from leaving Germany on the grounds that participation in the demonstration in Paris would harm the interests of the Federal Republic

A ban order from the Federal Police against one demonstrator means the woman is not allowed to travel to France until 9 January, the anniversary of the triple murder of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez by the Turkish secret service MIT in Paris, and must report to the police every day until then.

The order states: "Due to history, the reputation of the Federal Republic of Germany is already impaired if German citizens participate in events of banned associations abroad and show a not insignificant potential for aggression.

Furthermore, other interests of the Federal Republic of Germany may be endangered if German nationals commit criminal offences abroad. In addition to the risk of damaging the reputation of the Federal Republic of Germany, participation in events organized by associations banned in Germany also brings with it the possibility of further networking, the acquisition of banned propaganda material, the acquisition of new members or the radicalization of these members. In addition, such events offer the possibility of appearing in public in contravention of existing bans.”

The person concerned has been known to the German security authorities for a long time as a sympathizer/activist in the environment of the banned PKK organisation," states the "threat prognosis," according to which the demonstration in Paris serves "among other things, the networking or exchange of ideas in the environment of a banned organization on a national and international level. “By leaving the country, German nationals will also be involved in the agitation taking place at the above-mentioned event. This could have a considerable impact on the security policy of the Federal Republic of Germany.”

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Tens of thousands in Paris

Tens of thousands of people demand that the murderers of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, who were killed on 9 January 2013 in Paris, and Evîn Goyî, Mir Perwer and Abdurrahman Kızıl, who were murdered also in the French capital, on 23 December 2022, to be uncovered, and the decision of confidentiality in the case files to be lifted. People gathered in Gare du Nord from the early hours of the morning and walked up to the République square

The President of the Paris Bar Association, the representative of the Young Vigil Movement, addressed the crowd.

The rally was the result of 5 different branches that all reached République square.

We will win, they will lose!

Commemorate our martyrs of the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle in the persons of Evîn Goyî, Mir Perwer and Apê Abdurrahman. No matter how much pain we have, we are getting stronger. No matter what they do, we will win, they will lose.

Our revenge will be to continue the martyr’s struggle

“Dear friends, we are going through a historical process. A herd of barbarians and murderers is attacking us. With your participation in this march and rally today, you have shown that no barbarian power can stand in the way of the Kurdistan freedom struggle.

We commemorate Evîn Goyî, Apê Abdurrahman and Mir Perwer. At the same time, we commemorate Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez who were murdered on 9 January 2013. We will continue their lawsuit. As CDK-F, our struggle will not end until these two massacres are revealed. Our greatest revenge will be to keep their struggle alive.”

Polat: remove confidentiality order

Agit Polat criticized France-Turkey relations in his speech and said that “the invading Turkish state is not an ally but an enemy for France.” Polat, who demanded the removal of the state secret on the first Paris Massacre file said: “You have to remove this state secret, you have no choice. Is it normal that justice has not been done after 10 years? The Kurds in Paris should be under the protection of the government.

How long will your silent consent last? How long will your cooperation with Turkey last? The Turkish state is not your ally. If 9 January had been clarified, today's massacre would not have occurred. Today is the time; It is time to get to the bottom of all massacres. This is the honor of France. We are living in difficult times.

Now is the time to remove the PKK from the list of terrorist organizations. If the PKK had not been on the list of terrorist organizations, the 9 January massacre would not have happened, the 23 December massacre would not have happened. Mr. Macron, you have to understand why the Kurdish people are so angry. You are the only authority to lift the state secret order. The Kurdish people will never kneel, we will insist on the demand for justice!

Speaking on behalf of Sakine Cansız's family, her brother Metin said: "You are all Sakine's family." Evîn Goyî's cousin Zeynep Kara said: "As the family of Evîn Goyî, I welcome all who come. We were supposed to meet here.

Although we are sad, we bow respectfully before her memory. Our pain is great; our hearts are bleeding. No matter how much the Turkish state and its partners try to kill us or destroy us, we will never kneel before it. If the French state is a friend of the Kurds, it should bring justice for Heval Sara, Rojbîn and Ronahî and Heval Evîn, Mir Perwer and Abdurrahman Kızıl.”

Speaking on behalf of the family of Martyr Abdurrahman Kızıl, Cemal Turan said: “The history of our enemy is barbarism. It wants to slaughter us. You are resisting these massacres.”

Speaking on behalf of Martyr Mir Perwer's family, Musa Alan said: "10 years ago, Sara, Rojbin and Ronahî were murdered in Paris. On 23 December, Mir Perwer, Heval Evîn and Abdurrahman Kızıl were murdered, in Paris. The force against us is barbaric. But we will never bow down. Just as Mir Perwer followed the path of Hozan Serhad and fought for the development and spread of Kurdistan art, we will follow the path of Hozan Serhads and Mir Perwer.” Musa Alan read a song written by Mir Perwer.

“The martyrs were leading figures of the Kurdish struggle. Ömer Güney was a member of the MIT, he died in prison under suspicion. We did not give up on this struggle. France brought a state secret decision to prevent the prosecution of Turkish state officials. Our struggle will continue. We do not believe that Evîn Goyî was murdered by a racist. This is a political murder. As the Kurdish Women's movement, we will continue our struggle. The state secret decision on the 2013 file should be lifted.”

We will liberate Kurdistan

Zübeyir Aydar said: “Today, tens of thousands of Kurds, have gathered here for justice. We know the killers. Maybe the shooters were here, but those who ordered the killings were in Ankara. In 2013, our friends Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were murdered in Paris. This file has not been clarified. That's why the Turkish state planned the second massacre.

We are determined; we will achieve freedom

Mayor of Paris 10 Arrondissement, Alexandra Cordebard, expressed her sorrow for the massacres and emphasized that they stand with the Kurds as elected officials.

Cordebard said: “Let the 9 January and 23 December Massacres be clarified and justice provided. This massacre was committed not only on the Kurds, but also on Paris, the people of Paris and all France. I would like to tell you that we owe a lot to the Kurds. We are brothers and sisters. Kurds fought against ISIS for democracy and freedom. We exist because of you. Know that the elected representatives here are with you.”

Martial: France must protect Kurds

Jacques Martial, deputy of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, said: “We commemorate the Kurds who were massacred in France 10 years ago. We are with the Kurds. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is always with the Kurdish people. We know that the Kurds are fighting for their rights, fighting for humanity. That's why we are with the Kurds. France must protect those who fight for humanity.”

Panot: The PKK should be delisted

Mathilde Panot from the La France Insoummise (LFI) party said: “We are here with you today. On behalf of Mélenchon, I share your pain. There was a massacre 10 years ago. Again, on 23 December another massacre took place in Paris. We do not accept the media's claim that the murderer was a lone shooter.

The PKK should be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. As long as the PKK is on the terrorist list, it will be exposed to attacks. Long live Sara, Rojbin, Ronahi. France must protect the Kurds. Every Kurdish person in our country should know that we are with them. Let me end with the slogan of Iranian women for women's liberation: Jin Jiyan Azadi!”

Jocelyne Dubois, National Secretary of the French Left Party said: “We want truth and justice. France must protect its allies and stand against Erdogan. There should be no attack on Western Kurdistan, the PKK should be removed from the list of terrorist organisations and Ocalan should be freed."

Laurent: Macron must take responsibility

Pierre Laurent, Vice President of the Senate of the French Communist Party, asked Macron to take responsibility in his speech. “On behalf of all Communist Party members and elected officials, we would like to express our solidarity with you here. We will always be with you for truth and justice. Macron must take responsibility in this matter and must disclose all the documents.

If France does not clarify this massacre, it will be a great crime. If this is not clarified, it will mean a partnership with Erdogan. There should be an investigation into the massacre. In addition, the PKK should be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. This decision continues at the request of Erdogan. France should stop its relations with Erdogan.”

Cohen: We will go to Kurdistan in February

Speaking afterwards, Communist Party Senator Laurence Cohen said: “This massacre targeted women, Kurdish women and resistance fighters. We have been with you for 10 years. Currently, 100 parliamentarians from all political parties have asked Erdogan to stop his attacks in Kurdistan. We will go to Kurdistan in February to show solidarity with the Kurdish people.”