LONDONERS joined thousands of people around the world protesting the situation in Kobane, the town on the Syrian-Turkish border besieged by so-called Islamic State.
Hundreds marched from the city centre to North London carrying banners which read “Turkey stop supporting ISIS” and “Support Kurds resisting ISIS harassment in Kobane”.
Some criticised Turkey’s refusal to become involved in the struggle for the town, chanting “Shame on you, Turkish state” as they marched.
Kurdish fighters, supported by US-led air strikes, have been for weeks been battling IS militants for control of the town.
A hunger strike called last week outside Downing Street came to an end at the weekend as more than two thousand demonstrators – made up of Kurds and others – braved heavy rain for the rally.
Trafalgar Square was the venue for the biggest demonstration of the week, but there have been sporadic protests in areas like Haringey and Stoke Newington, where many Kurdish people live.
There was also a demonstration at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2, where Turkish Airlines operates flights, and a sit-in protest Gatwick Airport.
Demonstrators carrying banners and chanting slogans also caused the temporary closure of Oxford Circus, one of the busiest stations on the London Underground, after staging a sudden protest there.
‘DRAGGING FEET’
Salih Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Party, said People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters were struggling to halt the onslaught on the ground. He said: “There is heavy fighting going on by YPG forces and they’re trying to defend the civilians. There is a very large operation against them.”
