UNITED AGAINST TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CUSTODY

With courage and hope in their hearts, journalists and activists set off for Rojava about a week ago with the ‘Peoples Caravan’.
Rojava, the liberated part of Kurdistan in north-eastern Syria, and in particular the city of Kobanê, are currently under attack and siege by HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham). Due to targeted attacks on the infrastructure, people have been living without electricity and water for weeks in temperatures below 0 °C. Kobanê, which was liberated from IS in 2015, is located in the self-governing part of Syria.
People from all over Europe, as well as from Turkey and other countries, are currently travelling to Kobanê to show solidarity and defend Rojava against the invasion. An attack on Rojava is an attack on all democratic movements and highlights the attempt to roll back progressive developments.
This is also evident in the means of repression used:
A first delegation of journalists (‘Druck’, “Jugendinfo”, ‘Perspektive Online’) was arrested while covering protests near Kobanê. After their return on Friday (30 January 2026), they reported torture and sexual violence during their detention. Similar methods were also recently reported in connection with the detention of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla. The aim is to intimidate and break activists – women in particular are targeted for humiliation. Our solidarity goes out to all those affected who have experienced this repression.
Also on Friday, a second delegation from the ‘Peoples Caravan’ was arrested for participating in demonstrations near Pirsûs (Turkish: Suruç). Suruç is a place of special significance: in 2015, 33 socialist youths who wanted to help rebuild Kobanê were murdered there in a suicide bombing. Ten years later, 29 activists who want to defend Kobanê were arrested at this location. We demand their immediate and unconditional release!
The defence of Rojava requires our full attention. Those who set out to show practical solidarity are confronted with harsh repression by the fascist Turkish state. But intimidation will not stop what is necessary and remains the duty of all progressive people.
Freedom for all political prisoners!