Kurds in France and Germany protest against Turkish military actions

Several hundred people took to the streets of Paris to denounce what they deem to be anti-Kurdish policies by the Turkish government.

They called on Ankara to embrace the fragile 2013 Kurdish-Turkish peace process.

The march was held as military action against the militant PKK intensifies, which some say is actually aimed at putting an end to Kurdish territorial ambitions rather than fighting ISIL.

Yekbun Eksen, a representative of the Democratic Council of Kurdistan in Paris said, “Turkey has to change and has to stop its anti-Kurdish policy because it is ignoring other threats in the region like the Islamic State militants.” He added that “ it is an obstacle for peace in the Middle East and in Turkey.”

Meanwhile, across the border in Germany thousands of people took part in a similar protest in Cologne against the Turkish government.

One demonstrator, Tuelay Ozcelek said was she took to the streets because she doesn’t, “want a war between Turkey and the Kurds.”

The PKK announced it was stepping up attacks in July, claiming Turkish forces were violating the 2013 ceasefire. Ankara began an air campaign against PKK camps in northern Iraq at the end of last month.