Aurich demonstrates: Together against violence and deportations in Syria!

Aurich demonstrates: Together against violence and deportations in Syria!

Last Saturday, numerous people gathered in Aurich to protest against the increasing violence in Rojava and the planned deportations to Syria. Under the motto “Stop the attacks on Rojava,” the demonstration was organized by the Aurich Left District Association and the Kurdish Democratic Social Center. Attention should be drawn to the alarming situation in the autonomous region in northeastern Syria, which has been suffering from massive attacks for years.

The event began at 3:30 p.m. at the Aurich Sparkasse Arena and ultimately led to a rally on the market square. “We show solidarity with Rojava and demand an end to the deportations,” shouted Sultana Alim, a representative of the Kurds in Aurich. Critics see these deportations as unacceptable support for regimes responsible for atrocities.

The situation in Rojava

Rojava, which has stood for democracy and equality since 2013, has long been plagued by violent conflict. In particular, recent reports of attacks by the jihadist coalition Haiat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and Syrian government troops cast a bleak light on the situation of the civilian population. Many people are estimated to be living in makeshift shelters, some from the Afrin region, which was occupied by Turkey in 2018. This is also reported by the news platform nd-aktuell, which describes the plight of the people in the camps around Tabqa, where hundreds have to live under difficult conditions.

After HTS's change of power in November 2024, residents of surrounding regions grew fears of further attacks. “We have to draw attention to the plight of the refugees, who often had to leave their homeland with only the clothes on their backs,” emphasizes Patrick Humke, the deputy district chairman of the Left. The issue of political responsibility is all the more urgent in Germany, where the federal government financially supports deportations.

Politics, solidarity and support

Members of the Bundestag from four parties express concern about the current escalation in Syria and are calling for immediate de-escalation. The federal government's policies are also being sharply criticized by the demonstrators. Public criticism is growing in connection with the deportations, while the left is calling for a basic right to asylum and support for the autonomous region of Rojava.

“We cannot stand idly by as the people of Rojava are deprived of their freedom and as the federal government maintains its political and economic ties with the authoritarian governments in this region,” says Alim.

It is a time of change and awakening. The self-organization in the camps, where women come together and advocate for equal rights, shows that despite the adverse circumstances there is hope for a better future. In the Jineolojî Center, for example, Kurdish and Arab women are making a strong statement for peace and against violence.

This fight for rights and justice is not just a Kurdish concern, but affects us all. The dialogue must continue so that the voices of those who suffer under an unjust system are heard. The safety and well-being of refugees from Syria, Iran and Turkey are at the forefront and are not just a local but a global responsibility.