BRITAIN’S Kurdish community is demanding the release of its members and a full explanation after the homes of six individuals in north London were raided by counter-terrorism police on Wednesday.
As reported in the Morning Star, the Metropolitan Police also raided and shut down the Kurdish Community Centre (KCC) on Green Lanes.
Several people were staying at the centre at the time and, along with those who were arrested in their homes, have reported physical violence during the raids.
A 15-year-old boy was “jumped” by police while his father was being arrested.
His mother said: “Police jumped on him and started beating him. He and I screamed telling them that he was a child and then they stopped.
“In my more than 23 years living in Britain, I have never experienced anything like this.
“The police won't even allow us to go home to retrieve his school uniform.”
In a press conference today, testimonies were also heard from Abdul Kadir Bugdayci and Eyup Ozer, among those staying at the KCC.
The pair described being violently forced outside and held in the rain for over five hours without adequate clothing or socks.
Mr Bugdayci said: “We are asking for justice. One of our friends was severely ill and he was beaten up really badly.”
Kevin Blowe of Netpol, which monitors policing in Britain, raised concerns about the escalation of state repression, particularly the targeting of political dissent and protest.
He said it was “really disturbing” that the Labour government was continuing the repressive crackdown kicked off by the Tories.
“Over the last year, we've seen a toxic discourse against people involved in campaigning, particularly protesters; attacks on the legitimacy of political demands; a growing police intolerance towards dissent; and an increasing use of both hate crime and counter terrorism powers,” he said.
The Kurdish People’s Assembly co-chairman Ishak Milani said the raids are “a painful reminder of the systemic oppression faced by Kurdish people for generations.”
“We sought safety [in Britain], freedom and the opportunity to rebuild our lives and yet we now find ourselves targeted once again,” he said.
A march was planned through Green Lanes in the evening to demand the KKC be reopened, for an end to the community’s criminalisation, the delisting of the PKK as a terrorist organisation and a meaningful contribution from the British government to a democratic peace process in Turkey.
Jeremy Corbyn issued a statement in solidarity with the centre."I am deeply alarmed by the raid on the Kurdish Community Centre by large numbers of riot police.
"The Centre is an important cultural space for the diverse and inclusive communities of North London. It provides support for refugees who have fled war and persecution, and a space for the Kurdish community to come together. Its services and classes are a lifeline for many.
"Attacks on one community's institutions or its democratic freedoms is an attack on us all.
"I am proud to represent a constituency with a vibrant Kurdish community. They have changed our part of London for the better – and their resolve is an inspiration to millions of us seeking to build a more just and peaceful world."
