RESOLUTION – Solidarity with Kurdistan

Version of the motion re-adopted at the 2025 General Assembly:

EUJS notes that:

1. That thousands of Kurdish fighters have lost their lives in the fight against militant Islamism, for the freedom and safety of people in the Middle East as well as worldwide, such as defeating Daesh in Syria and Iraq and thereby ending the genocide of Yazidis in 2014.
2. That the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria created a power vacuum that enabled the takeover in December 2024 by the HTS forces, once again leaving Kurdish communities and other minorities without critical support and necessary protection.
3. That the Kurdish people have suffered the threat of genocide continuously for the last decades, while the world has stood idly by;4. That we as Jews have endured genocide and statelessness in the past, and massacres like October 7th, while the world too idly stood by.
4. That we as Jews have endured genocide, statelessness in the past, and massacres like the 7th of October, while the world too stood idly by. 
5. Kurds are the largest stateless ethnic group in the world, with a majority living by the border axes of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Kurdish culture, language, and political rights are systematically repressed through policies of Turkification and Islamist policies of the Iranian regime, which executes Kurds on accusations of “spying for Israel”. Such policies aim to erase their identity, subjecting them to hate crimes and discrimination both in their homelands and in the diaspora.
6. Kurdish forces in Syria also contribute to the security of Israel by countering Islamist groups, thereby helping to prevent the spread of extremist influence toward Israel's borders. Israel has historically expressed political support for the Kurdish people, including publicly supporting the establishment of an independent Kurdistan. The Iranian regime’s state-sponsored antisemitism and its network of proxy militias both target Israel's self-determination and undermine Kurdish aspirations for independent statehood.
7. In Rojava and across Kurdish movements, feminism is a central pillar of political and social organisation, with Kurdish women playing leading roles in governance, education, and self-defence. The recognition and support of Kurdish feminism resonate with the broader struggle for inclusive feminist discourse, which has seen Jewish and Israeli feminist voices increasingly marginalised or silenced, particularly after October 7th. Building alliances between these movements strengthens both in the face of discrimination, erasure, and political animosity.

EUJS believes

1. That Turkey’s military actions, together with militant Islamists in northern Syria (Rojava), combined with its repression of the Kurdish people, are leading to more displacement, bloodshed, and the potential re-emergence of Daesh. Moreover, the subjugation faced by regional minority groups, coupled with the rife instability in the region, ensures that the threat of another genocide of minority groups in the region, like that of the genocide of Yazidis in Shingal in 2014, remains a distinct possibility. 
2. That the Turkish-Fascist Grey Wolves Movement (Ülkücu-Movement / Bozkurtlar) is a threat to Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Assyrians, and Turks,  around the world, including in Member States of the European Union. 
3. Solidarity with the Kurdish people is grounded not only in shared experiences of statelessness and persecution but also in shared values of democracy, pluralism, and human rights.

EUJS resolves

1. To recognise the essential role of Kurdish forces in defeating Daesh (IS) and defending democracy, minority rights, and women’s rights in the region.
2. To call for the cessation of Turkish attacks in northern Syria (Rojava) and Kurdish-administered areas of Iraq, and for an end to the Turkification policy.
3. To oppose the criminalisation of Kurdish identity and political activism in Turkey and Europe, and to promote recognition of Kurdish language and culture as an enrichment to society.
4. To call for a halt to arms exports to Turkey that could be used against Kurdish populations.
5. To demand protection for the Kurdish refugees in Europe and oppose their deportation to countries where they face persecution.
6. To advocate for designating the Grey Wolves as a terrorist group and thus banning it in all EU member states, as the parliament of the EU urged them to on May 20th 2021.
7. To show solidarity with the Kurdish people and affirm its support for Kurdish democratic self-governance and self-determination.
8. To show solidarity with Kurdish women's movements and to promote the recognition of Kurdish feminism as an important part of global feminist struggles.
9. To actively foster alliances between Kurdish feminist movements and Jewish/Israeli feminist voices, ensuring that both are recognised, supported, and included in global feminist discourse, especially in the wake of October 7th.

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Original version of the motion adopted at the 2020 General Assembly:

EUJS notes that:

1. Over the past six years, the Kurdish people played a pivotal role in successfully fighting Daesh in Syria and Iraq, and this role helped to stop the genocide against the Yazidis in Shingal in 2014.
2. During the last six years, over 11,000 Kurdish fighters lost their lives, fighting for freedom from militant Islamism – including the freedom of their neighbours and allies.
3. The decision of the United States of America on the 6th of October 2019 to withdraw US support from northern Syria (Rojava), and the general lack of support of Western governments, should be viewed as clearly endangering the Kurdish population of Northern Syria (Rojava) via the greater susceptibility of creating a power vacuum in the region.
4. The Kurdish people have suffered from genocide or the threat of genocide continuously for the last decades, while the world has stood idly by;
5. We, as Jews, have endured genocide and statelessness in the past.
6. The overwhelming global Kurdish population exists by the border axes of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, and, until today, Kurds continue to be oppressed by the Turkish government as well as other regional state actors.
7. The exploitation of natural resources in Kurdish regions such as Kirkuk has exacerbated the socio-political and economic hardship faced by the Kurdish population.

EUJS believes that:

1. Turkey’s military actions, together with militant Islamists in northern Syria (Rojava), combined with its repression of the Kurdish people, is leading to more displacement, bloodshed, and the potential re-emergence of Daesh. Moreover, the subjugation faced by regional minority groups, coupled with the rife instability in the region, ensures that the threat of another genocide of minority groups in the region, like that of the genocide of Yazidis in Shingal in 2014 remains a distinct possibility. It is important, in order to prevent such atrocities from happening, to support the Kurdish self-defence forces directly.
2. The Turkish-Fascist Grey Wolves Movement (Ülkücu-Movement / Bozkurtlar) is a threat to Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Turks, and many others in Turkey and around the world, including in Member States of the European Union. Supporters of the Grey Wolves have attacked Kurdish people and institutions all over Europe, for example, in Vienna in June 2020 and in France in September 2020.
3. As a Jewish organisation, it is important to stand with people who are suffering from statelessness, persecution, and genocide.

EUJS resolves to:

1. Recognise the important role the Kurdish people have played in the fight against Daesh over the past six years.
2. Recognise the Genocide of the Yazidis in 2014 in Shingal.
3. Call on Turkey and the European Union to halt the Turkish military presence in Northern Syria (Rojava) – as well as halting the bombing of Kurdish-administered areas in Iraq, such as Khanasor in early November 2019, which would allow for a genocide against the Kurdish people.
4. Call on Turkey and the European Union to stop the persecution of Kurdish people in Turkey and in neighbouring regions.
5. Lobby the European Union, governments, International Organisations, NGOs, universities, students, and other relevant institutions to stop the Turkish military presence in northern Syria (Rojava) and support the right of Kurdish self-determination.
6. Lobby the European Union, governments, International Organisations, NGOs, universities, students, and other relevant institutions to ban the Turkish-nationalist Grey Wolves (Ülkücü-Movement/ Bozkurtlar).
7. Show solidarity with the Kurdish people and affirm its support for Kurdish democratic self-governance and self-determination.