Kurdish Protestors Destroy Fences at the Syrian Border

People who gathered at Mursitpınar entry point of Turkish Border break the fences crossing to Syrian side for the solidarity with Kurds fleeing from brutal attacks by the IS. IS attacks continue to capture the border town of Kobani, hundreds of Kurds have fled the town and surrounding villages since last Friday September 26th, crossing into Turkey.

Kurds from all over Turkey have rushed to the 30-kilometer-long border the Syrian Kurdish province of Kobani shares with Turkey to fight against IS in Syria.

But Azad and Okan, 22-year-old students in the Aegean city of Izmir, say the police violence on the Turkish site of the border they have faced over the past four days has hardened their resolve to stay and demonstrate in support of their “brothers and sisters” in Kobani. The previous day, 12 of their friends were taken in custody during a protest. “Why do they treat us as terrorists when the real terrorists are in Kobani, killing and looting?” asks Okan. Despite a lack of fighting experience, they mull over the possibility of joining the armed resistance in Kobani.

The Turkish parliament will decide on October 2 about a ground operation into Syrian territory to create a buffer zone for the 1.5 million refugees right now in Turkey to bring them there. It’s about 1.5 million people who will return to their country. One of the negotiated chapters is their return. Maybe new cities will be formed for them in Syria in the new buffer zone controlled by Turkey, as the Turkish president said today September 27th in a press meeting, and he continues: we will protect our borders ourselves.

Photos by Yasin Akgül, NarPhotos