On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Kurdistani Diaspora Centre of Hull and Yorkshire in the United Kingdom organized a powerful and united demonstration in solidarity with the people of Rojava. Hundreds of Kurdish people from all four parts of Kurdistan gathered, bringing determination, energy, and a shared sense of responsibility to raise their voices against the ongoing injustice and aggression targeting the Kurdish people.
Participants called on the international community to take immediate and meaningful action against the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa and to hold all perpetrators of violence accountable. The demonstration sent a clear message: the Kurdish people, who stood on the front lines in the global fight against ISIS, must not now be abandoned to repression, violence, and political neglect.
The Kurdish struggle against ISIS was not only a fight for Kurdish survival—it was a defence of humanity as a whole. Thousands of Kurdish women and men sacrificed their lives to stop extremist forces from spreading across the world. Yet today, Kurdish communities face systematic attacks, displacement, and silence from global powers. This injustice will not be accepted quietly.
A central focus of the demonstration was the role of Kurdish women. The community reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging women and girls to braid their hair as a powerful symbol of resistance, strength, and Kurdish resilience in the face of oppression. Kurdish women have always stood at the forefront of the struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination, and their resistance continues to inspire people worldwide.
For Kurds, unity is not a slogan—it is a necessity. In moments when our people are under attack, unity becomes our strongest weapon. History has taught us that division weakens us, while unity ensures our survival.
The ongoing attacks by the Syrian regime against Kurdish sisters and brothers are not random acts of violence. They are deliberate and calculated attempts to erase Kurdish identity, presence, and authority over our own land. These attacks are meant to send a message to the world—that Kurdish lives can be taken, Kurdish cities destroyed, and Kurdish rights denied without accountability or consequence.
But today, from Hull and Yorkshire, we say clearly and loudly: that message will not succeed.
As members of the Kurdish diaspora, we carry a deep responsibility. When our people are bombarded, displaced, and silenced, neutrality is not an option. From Britain, from Europe, and from every corner of the world, we must raise our voices with pride and determination. We must be the voice of those who cannot speak.
The Kurdistani Diaspora Centre of Hull and Yorkshire stands in full solidarity with our people and comrades in Rojava. We stand against the Syrian regime, extremist armed groups, and all forces committing crimes against our nation. These are not acts of war—they are acts against humanity.
Rojava is not alone.
The Kurdish people are not alone.
And we will not stay silent.
By Davan Yahya Khalil