Ms Lambert said many Kurdish people were working as a force for equality and stability in the region, and it was essential to develop peace between Kurds and the Turkish government.

“We need to get a better understanding of the role Kurds are playing in Syria – in particular developing at least one area of stability in the Kurdish region, Ain al Arab.

“It is always a pleasure to meet Kurdish people living in London, to hear about the positive contribution they are making to civic life both here and abroad.”

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Speaking before the event, the Green Party MEP, who is also a patron of the ‘Peace in Kurdistan’ group, said:

“Again, I wish the Kurdish people peace in the next year – especially in Syria, where so many have died or been forced to leave their homes.

“I wish you justice: that the murderers of your three sisters in Paris will be tracked down and punished.

“I wish you democracy and success in the elections in Turkey. I shall send that message on Twitter! Let us hope the Turkish government has realised how undemocratic it is to stop free speech, which is a basic freedom.

“I also wish you success and happiness in the year to come – and peace in your home and your community.

“I also hope that you will use your democratic right in London and will vote in the European elections on May 22. I know you will vote wisely.

“Happy Newroz.”

Background

The largest festival of the Kurdish community in the United Kingdom, Newroz marks the beginning of the Kurdish New Year and the feast of Kawa, who, according to legend, liberated the people of Kurdistan from an evil tyrant.

The celebrations, a symbol of Kurdish identity, were banned in Turkey until 2005 where thousands of people would be detained during the festivities.

Newroz – which means ‘new sun’ or ‘new day’ – marks the beginning of the Kurdish New Year, and the feast of Kawa the Blacksmith who, according to legend, liberated Kurds and many other nations of the region. It is the largest festival of Kurdish, Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Iranian communities in the UK.

Kurds fled to Britain in large numbers about 20 years ago, mostly from Iraq and Turkey, to escape the violent suppression of their right to assert their own identity, language and culture. Marking Newroz, or new year, is not just a calendar date but a political act, because until recently Kurdish Newroz was forbidden in Turkey.

There are Kurdish regions in Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria, and people from all those regions are represented in London. Over 50,000 Kurds now live in London, with many from Turkey living in Hackney and many Iraqi Kurds in Hammersmith.

For more information on London’s Newroz commemoration, click here .

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London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert, welcomed the call for peace, which was made as Kurdish people around the world celebrate Newroz, Kurdish New Year.

Ms Lambert said: “As many as 40,000 people have died since the PKK begun its campaign for a Kurdish homeland in South-eastern Turkey, that’s 40,000 deaths too many. – on all sides.

“I welcome this truce call, which follows months of peace talks between the Turkish government and the PKK, a hope for a serious, positive response.”

Ms Lambert made her comments as she prepared to attend Newroz celebrations in the Town Hall in Hackney, home to one of the UK’s largest Kurdish communities.

Hackney’s civic Newroz celebrations will take place tonight (Thursday, March 21st) from 6pm until 9pm.

Ms Lambert added: “The Kurdish community makes a vital contribution to the social, democratic and cultural life of our city and are constructively engaged in creating a more equal society.
“Last month the European Parliament discussed recent attempts to move towards a lasting peace for Turkey and the Kurdish people and I welcome all the signs that the coming year will bring continued progress towards lasting peace and democracy. I hope we see similar progress in other countries in the region.
“I wish all Kurdish people in London and around the world a very happy Newroz.”

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Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London, will join the call to halt the development of the controversial Ilisu Dam at a demonstration organised by the Kurdish Human Rights Project in London on Monday.

KHRP and supporters will deliver a signed letter to the headquarters of Turkish bank AKBANK, who, together with GarantiBank, have recently pledged to give financial support to the project, which threatens to devastate the local environment and communities, while continuing to negate international safeguards related to its construction.

Situated 65 km from the border to neighbouring countries Iraq and Syria, its development will create a gigantic reservoir in the Kurdish regions of Southeast Turkey. Around 400 sq km of the as yet largely free-flowing Tigris River and its confluents will be gravely damaged or destroyed and Kurdish territory divided.

Jean, who is KHRP’s Advisor on Environmental Rights and has been campaigning to halt the development of the Ilisu Dam since she was elected to European Parliament in 1999, said:

“I am greatly concerned that the Turkish banks AKBANK and GarantiBank have pledged funding to this potentially devastating project and urgently call on them to rethink their positions.

“If built, the proposed dam will displace up to 78,000 people creating devastating social upheaval completely submerging the historic town of Hasankeyf forever. Being situated on one of most biologically diverse rivers on earth, it will also cause serious environmental harm, health problems and curtail the downstream flow of water to Iraq and Syria.

“The dam is intended to produce hydro-electric power to cover the electricity shortages in Turkey, but there are other ways to meet this need, without destroying the people’s lives and the environment.

“These and many other fundamental flaws have prompted strong opposition in the region and yet there have been little public participation, there is an acute shortage of resettlement land and a total failure to protect cultural heritage.

“As these flaws have been exposed funding from Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Austria has all collapsed and I encourage AKBANK and GarantiBank to take heed of these informed decisions.”

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Adopting Sharia law will effectively impose gender apartheid on Kurdish women, the MEPs warn, and would be likely to promote a rise in violent sectarianism.

Speaking on International Women’s Day, Dr Lucas, South-East England’s MEP, said: “Making Sharia Law the basis for future lawmaking in Kurdistan is a recipe for attacks on women’s rights.

“Religion is, and should be, a private matter for individuals. We demand the separation of religion from the state and education system, in Kurdistan and in the UK and around the world.”

Her London counterpart Jean Lambert added: “Article Seven of the proposed regional constitution for Kurdistan dictates that the fundamental tenets of Islamic Sharia law will be considered as one of the major sources for legislation making.

“As we mark International Women’s Day we must remember that women and members of both religious and sexual minorities suffer daily discrimination and human rights abuses the world over.

“It is crucial that we recognize the bravery of those that continue to campaign on these issues often risking their own lives.  We must never stop fighting for equality and an end to this discrimination and that means listening to the women of Kurdistan who are calling for a secular authority in the region.”

ENDS

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