By Frsat Said Shkur
The tragic events in the city of Aleppo, particularly the unjust and hostile attacks launched against the residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, were not merely a military assault. Rather, they were a profound test for the conscience of humanity and the national will of the Kurdish people.
The painful scenes of killing, displacement, and the humiliation of Kurdish civilians in Aleppo have become a dark stain on the foreheads of the perpetrators—one that history will never forget. However, behind this suffering, another truth emerged that is shifting all political equations for the present and the future.
What is noteworthy and demands reflection is the swift popular response across all parts of Kurdistan. When the Kurds of Rojava (Western Kurdistan) came under pressure and threat, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Amed, Mahabad, and Sanandaj rose up in unison. The masses took to the streets with great fervor to declare their support for their brothers and sisters in Rojava. This support was not merely a slogan; it was a clear message to the world powers and the enemies of the Kurds: that if any Kurd, anywhere in the world, faces injustice and oppression, all Kurds will vibrate as one body and stand as a shield for them.
Furthermore, the Kurdish diaspora in Europe and America became the voice of the silenced victims of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in international forums. Through rallies and diplomatic activities, Kurds abroad informed global public opinion about the crimes against humanity being committed in Aleppo.
At the political and diplomatic level, the efforts of President Masoud Barzani, as a national leader, had a significant impact. President Barzani, consistently acting as a defender of the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people, has been in a tireless struggle to establish peace and keep the dangers of war away from Kurdish citizens. His diplomatic endeavors and his emphasis on protecting the dignity of the Kurdish individual ensured that the Kurdish cause remained alive in international assemblies and thwarted malicious conspiracies.
Ultimately, the enemies of the Kurds must understand that the era of dividing and silencing the Kurds is over. The events in Aleppo reaffirmed a historical truth: “If Kurds and Kurdistan are united and speak with one voice, no force or army in the world will dare to oppose the legitimate cause of the Kurds.”