Kurds on hunger strike demand EU help against IS

Brussels, Oct 9 (IANS/EFE) Over a hundred Kurds who have been on a hunger strike for almost two weeks gathered Thursday near the European Parliament (EP) and called for action to halt the offensive by Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani.

The protesters urged the European Union (EU) to support the Kurdish resistance and take measures to prevent a likely genocide should the city fall to the Sunni Muslim extremists who have kept it under siege since Sep 16.

On Tuesday, the demonstrators forced their way into the EP headquarters to protest the passivity of the EU towards the terrorist group that has seized control of vast areas of Iraq and Syria and threatens to carry out terror attacks in Europe.

Kurdish demonstrators who have recently carried out similar protests at several European airports also issued an urgent call for military and humanitarian aid to the inhabitants of Kobani.

A spokesman for the Kurdish National Congress, Rhodi Mellek, charged that Western nations failed to act effectively against the Sunni jihadi organization. If they should enter Kobani, the international powers would be the ones responsible, he warned.

For several weeks, outgunned and outnumbered Kurdish fighters have been attempting to turn back the jihadi offensive that, if successful, would leave IS in control of a strategic enclave on Syria's border with Turkey.

At least 130,000 people have fled Kobani to seek refuge in other parts of Syria or across the border in Turkey. The protesters, who have been on a hunger strike for 12 days, appealed to all democratic forces to support the Kurds in their struggle.

They also criticised Turkey, which they accused of funding, arming and providing logistical support to IS in Iraq and Syria, where the extremist group proclaimed an "Islamic caliphate" in June.

--IANS/EFE

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