Protests Sweep UK Cities Against KDP Betrayal of 1996
Demonstrators Honor Fallen Poet Bakr Ali and Vow to Keep the Memory Alive
Today, August 31st, large-scale protests took place in five major cities across the UK, organized by the Dakok organization. The demonstrations aimed to denounce the actions of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) during the 1996 Kurdish civil war and the lasting impact on the region’s political landscape. Protesters voiced their frustration over what they see as the betrayal of Kurdish aspirations for true democracy.
In interviews with Kurdfile, a number of activists emphasized that the KDP’s betrayal in 1996, when it seized control of the first Kurdish parliament with support from Saddam Hussein’s forces, would not be forgotten. They warned that this betrayal won’t be the last, urging vigilance and continued activism.
The protests also featured a poignant tribute to Bakr Ali, a Kurdish poet who was killed during the civil war by forces seeking to silence his powerful voice. Demonstrators laid flowers in his memory, symbolizing the ongoing struggle against oppression and the fight to keep active voices heard in the face of political power plays.
As protesters filled the streets, their message was clear: the events of 1996 are not just a distant memory, but a continuing wound in the fight for true democracy in Kurdistan. They called on the international community to remember this painful history and support the Kurdish people in their quest for genuine self-governance.
I am a dedicated member of the Syndicate of Kurdistan Journalists with over seven years of experience in both local and international press. My background includes roles as an editor, translator, and social activist. Through my work, I am committed to ending corruption and human rights violations by uncovering and sharing the truth about what is happening in Kurdistan.