“
Woman, life, freedom!
Hundreds of people are gathered this Saturday, December 24, Place de la République in Paris, the day after the deadly attack that claimed the lives of three people.
The demonstration is organized by the Kurdish Democratic Council in France
which
"
virulently condemns this infamous terrorist attack which comes following multiple threats made by Turkey, an ally of Daesh
".
Under a cloudy sky, the demonstrators display flags of the PKK (Workers' Party of Kurdistan), signs of support for the Kurds committing to have their rights recognized.
An activist displaying a PKK flag on the Place de la République in Paris.
SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
"
What we feel is pain and incomprehension because it's not the first time it's happened
," Esra, a 23-year-old student who hasn't wished to give his surname, his eyes red with tears.
The demonstrators carry the portraits of the victims of the December 23 attack.
SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
A minute of silence was observed, in music, in memory of the victims and "
all the Kurds who died for freedom
".
Several demonstrators present denounced to AFP an "
injustice " and a "
terrorist
" and "
political
" act
.
Very moved, the Kurdish community gathered en masse on this Christmas Eve.
JULIAN DE ROSA / AFP
The former Minister of Culture, Jack Lang took part, with some local elected officials in the demonstration.
Jack Lang took part in the demonstration, alongside some local elected officials.
SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
On the other side of Paris, the emotion is great in front of the Kurdish Cultural Center Ahmet-Kaya, rue Enghien in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, where the police force has lightened, without being completely lifted, Kurdish songs are sung in solidarity with the victims.
“
We are all PKK
”, chants the small gathered crowd.
A hundred people gathered in the early morning to pay tribute to the three victims, active members of the Kurdish community.
A hundred people gathered this Saturday, December 24 in front of the Kurdish cultural center, hit by an attack that cost the lives of three people.
JS / LE FIGARO
The prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, received this Saturday morning at 10 a.m. representatives of the Kurdish community, "
at the request of the President of the Republic and the Minister of the Interior
", according to Agit Polat, spokesman for the Kurdish community, who will be one of the interlocutors present.
The Kurdish community gathered in front of the Kurdish cultural center Ahmet-Kaya.
JS / LE FIGARO
The Kurdish community in fear
“
We are bereaved and angry
, continued Agit Polat.
We tried to alert the authorities and inform them that we had very serious concerns about our safety, in connection with the very tense climate currently in Turkey and with the Kurdish movement, and on the other hand with the approach of the 10ᵉ anniversary of the triple murder files.
»
Agit Polat is the spokesperson for the Kurdish association CDKF.
THOMAS SAMSON / AFP
The Kurdish community was indeed preparing to honor the tenth anniversary of the disappearance of three Kurdish activists, Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez, "
coldly murdered, in broad daylight, in the heart of Paris, by an agent of the intelligence service Turkish (MIT)
”.
Many demonstrators wanted to honor Kurdish women, victims ten years ago of barbarism.
JULIAN DE ROSA / AFP
The spokesperson for the Kurdish Democratic Council of France explains that he asked "
about ten days ago
" for protective measures from the French authorities.
“
It seems that the assassins have a predilection for attacking Kurdish women
,” lamented Jean-Luc Mélenchon, present at the Kurdish cultural center the evening of the attack.
