After television, newspapers and social media reported about many #saveKobani demonstrations around the world yesterday and today, I got thinking about Kurdistan and the plight of the Kurdish people. It got me thinking that I want to do my bit to help, even if all I'm doing is writing a blog post.
Kobani is a city in the Syrian part of Kurdistan, very close to the Turkish border. The Islamic State terrorist group has been trying to capture Kobani for weeks. Kurdish forces have bravely defended the city and their territory, however IS(IS) has been gaining ground. Turkey seems to be very intent on helping the Islamic State terrorist group. As ABC News reports:
Let me repeat that: 160,000 Kurdish refugees streaming to the Turkish border, many have been prevented from crossing. Turkish authorities have been battling desperate Kurdish refugees trapped between ISIS and the border. Why is the world not jumping up and down in anger at Turkey? Why are Kurdish refugees, those fighting to save their people from murdering terrorists, people fleeing for their sanity and their lives, why are they denied safety in Turkey?
The world jumped up and down shouting "Save the Yazidi people" only weeks ago to forget about them almost as quickly. The world has also cried out for the Kurdish people in the past yet today refugees are trapped between ISIS and Turkey - one trying to behead you, the other leaving you out in the cold to be taken by those who will certainly behead you. Where is the outrage?
Through one of my best friends in high school, a Kurdish girl, I met many other Kurdish people, heard some of their stories. Each and every one of them was kind and friendly, many welcomed me into their homes and lives. Some were from the same area my friend and her family were from, others from all over Kurdistan. It's quite likely I met people who've been to Kobani, who knew people there, who were perhaps from there themselves. I'm glad that I don't have any faces or stories to link to the name of the city now under attack. It would hurt more that way to hear and read about what's happening. I wish the Kurdish fighters all the best, may there soon be many more boots on the ground to support their noble and heroic fight.
Kobani is a city in the Syrian part of Kurdistan, very close to the Turkish border. The Islamic State terrorist group has been trying to capture Kobani for weeks. Kurdish forces have bravely defended the city and their territory, however IS(IS) has been gaining ground. Turkey seems to be very intent on helping the Islamic State terrorist group. As ABC News reports:
Lightly armed Kurdish fighters in the Syrian border town of Kobani have for weeks held off an ISIS onslaught, but the battle has moved to the streets of Kobani as the president of Turkey warned today that the town was about to fall to the Islamic militants.
The fight for the Kurdish city and its surrounding villages has sent more than 160,000 Kurdish refugees streaming to the Turkish border when many have been prevented from crossing.
Turkish tanks are poised along the border with their guns pointed toward Kobani, but the tanks haven't moved. Instead, Turkish authorities have been battling desperate Kurdish refugees trapped between ISIS and the border.
Let me repeat that: 160,000 Kurdish refugees streaming to the Turkish border, many have been prevented from crossing. Turkish authorities have been battling desperate Kurdish refugees trapped between ISIS and the border. Why is the world not jumping up and down in anger at Turkey? Why are Kurdish refugees, those fighting to save their people from murdering terrorists, people fleeing for their sanity and their lives, why are they denied safety in Turkey?
The world jumped up and down shouting "Save the Yazidi people" only weeks ago to forget about them almost as quickly. The world has also cried out for the Kurdish people in the past yet today refugees are trapped between ISIS and Turkey - one trying to behead you, the other leaving you out in the cold to be taken by those who will certainly behead you. Where is the outrage?
Twitter hashtag #Kobani
Through one of my best friends in high school, a Kurdish girl, I met many other Kurdish people, heard some of their stories. Each and every one of them was kind and friendly, many welcomed me into their homes and lives. Some were from the same area my friend and her family were from, others from all over Kurdistan. It's quite likely I met people who've been to Kobani, who knew people there, who were perhaps from there themselves. I'm glad that I don't have any faces or stories to link to the name of the city now under attack. It would hurt more that way to hear and read about what's happening. I wish the Kurdish fighters all the best, may there soon be many more boots on the ground to support their noble and heroic fight.