Jan-Lukas is a political activist from Kassel. In October 2019 his home was searched by police. The reproach: terrorism. Amazing, for Jan-Lukas fought 2017 against the terrorist militia Islamic State in Syria on the side of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). In Rojava a grass roots democratic and feminist social system was built by the Kurdish Left midst of war, the experiences of many socialist movements solidarity. From Kassel. We try to talk about political repression in Kassel and the situation in Syria.
An interview from Christoph Hepp
Activist Jan Lukas Quelle: press department
Jan-Lukas, in the October were suddenly police and state security in your flat. What was there, as was the starting?
There was a Decision by the Federal Court for investigation, I for §129, Membership in a terrorist organization, suspected has been. They wanted to search for evidence, I between 2017 and 2018 was at YPG. Well, that this was suspected to occasion taken, to search the apartment and more evidence to to back up.
And the YPG is since performed as a terrorist organization?
No, But it will be told, that due to the proximity to the PKK, the yes as Terrorist organization is considered, an initial suspicion.
You are now no concrete crimes accused?
No, not that one. It goes alone to the presence in Syria and membership the organization. As is said, there is enough evidence that the YPG PKK is near, or one “unselbstständige Teilorganisation” the PKK is. Therefore, the participation of the YPG enough, order in criminal proceedings in to determine Germany.
“That is why the participation is at the YPG enough, to identify criminal proceedings in Germany in the frame.”
How did the Search then concretely from? What kind of effort have operated?
There were about six policeman * inside my apartment. Perhaps a more, one fewer. At least no SWAT. But using ran parallel with my parents, in my old residential community and in my current apartment, I recently moved. At three locations at the same time. A huge deployment.
In Deir ez-Zor Source: Private
That sounds like a bad day. How you arrange the searches one now and what are your fears? Such events are so often the Harbinger of very different events.
I guess, that the action with me part of a generally tougher line against the Kurdish freedom movement. And also against the people, which you are close to. Recently, for instance, took a raid in Hamburg instead Anja flat. Anja is a recognized and reputable author, dealing with the Kurdish freedom movement was solidarity and several times in Kurdistan. That repression as a public person makes, is something new.
And then the Banner bans. The states can now follow, if you just the flags of Rojava shows. absurd. Just before Christmas took German police on Turkish arrest warrant still Mehmet Sarar fixed, A Turkish Left. And - that's not enough - for a few days Mustafa Çelik sitting in Bremen Custody for alleged PKK membership, quite the Interest of the Turkish government.
And in Kassel?
Beginning this year, there were house searches at several Kurdish Comrades in Kassel and in the Kurdish Cultural Association Welat in the Frankfurter Straße. Of course, for alleged Supporting terrorism. So Kassel is no exception.
“I would argue, that it is opportune again politically in Germany, to criminalize the Kurdish liberation movement.”
And all this in the moment, when Turkey in the Federation northern Syria, also Rojava, invaded. I would argue, it again in Germany is politically opportune, the Kurdish freedom movement criminalize. Criminalization is here already much more pronounced than in other states, such as France or Belgium. But now falling political and discursive barriers, the further strengthening the repression against Kurds so far prevented had. And all this according to the dictates Turkey.
How are you going personally with the repression to, what are your conclusions from the situation? Finally, it is not chicken, if the police suddenly stands in your apartment and you have a terrorist procedures neck has.
Of course, you will hit by the repression as an individual. It has individually material damage. Then there is the psychological stress. But one may decide, to collectivize this repression. This means concrete, to maintain a common strategic handling of it, So to distribute the loads. Suddenly falls on a, that there are structures and political friendships, who like to thus deal and you can learn a lot of help and solidarity. Also if you initially feel a bit graces, is it more of a hit invigorating as a debilitating experience of repression to be.
Only then can one develop an awareness, that since political ideas to be attacked. And that for these ideas quite a lot of people are and not just individual players, like myself. If one forms a solidary practice it, you can really stronger from the situation arise - as paradoxical as it sounds.
Dog and YPG fighters in Serikaniyê source: private
now maybe a more general question, because you call yourself so as internationalist. What does the term for you?
Since one can say, of course, much. First, the term abstract, that you can not stop politically by national borders. Neither in thought nor in action. Because there are so many people who consider themselves so as internationalists, I would still expand the. Because for me internationalism is not only picking out the raisins and these to exploit for its own policy, when you look at another leftist movements in the world. Many there lay their German discourse template on any conflicts on it and look for discrepancies, which are then criticized. Certain things will then be celebrated and others paid no attention, because one does not really fit into that stuff. Internationalism means to me, that one really gets involved in other struggles and attempts, learn from. Of course, it is also to be critical, but to look in the first place: How does it work in other places, where it works, anyway?
Because in Germany it does not work precisely. There is no socially relevant radical left. But in Kurdistan just now, just when If the revolution in Rojava look at. Because you should rather approach humbly, with the attitude of a learner.
” Internationalism means to me, that one really gets involved in other struggles and attempts, to learn from it.”
You were 2017 With the YPG in the fight against the Islamic State involved. How did Today your perspective on this time?
retrospective considers it is good, to support the project, also very practical military terms. But then on my Decision provides for you, that it is above all the war, the one from knows the German mass media. But from a political Perspective is more the social construction processes Interesting. So how people are mobilized as, or what one can say diplomatically. things so, the entirely are beyond the military operation. This is the, what one something really can learn and should.
The fact that mainly go internationalists there to fight, although it are other ways, shows, that the internationalism yet is not so far. We know so little about. Accordingly you would have to go and be surprised. retrospective I think it would be better, to go into civilian structures and there to learn and work, although the military structures very are important in the current situation.
You were recently again in Rojava, especially in civil structures. What is there the location of the year 2019/2020?
Well, Turkey has realized in October its threat of war and in northeast Syria gire invaded between SPI and Serikaniyê, together with the jihadist militias, those equipped by it and trained become. After almost a week of hard fighting has become the situation consolidates, Turkey has stopped the offensive. In this decision diplomatic pressure Russia pure played, and the pressure from the street, of a large negative Media coverage has triggered. Probably the biggest so far about military action Turkey, greater than that in the Afrin Offensive 2018.
Clear, There is battles, but have the large land acquisitions and airstrikes stopped. in January it is again a meeting between Putin and give Erdogan, Until then tries exert pressure on each other. Each village is what now conquered, help behind in the negotiations.
Destroyed Raqqa source: Private
What do you think because, what perspective has the Rojava project?
so desirable would obviously be a peace. And unfortunately there leads to Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian regime, no way around. This means, you have to For good or evil to agree with him. The problem is, that there is a highly internationalized conflict, and even if Assad wanted to, He is not alone, of course, by far, in Syria has to say. There are conferences, where the fate of Syria is decided, without it a single Syrian is involved.
Involved are the Imperial- and regional powers, For example, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and now and then the US. This means, it is a very to eventually reach peace sophisticated diplomatic mission. but clearly, desirable and I think also reached, is a radical federal solution for all of Syria with the inclusion of northeastern Syrian Federation and, indeed, Assad. That would make the keep revolutionary perspective in the country alive. Besides Assad, the Bucks against such democratization further parts of the country, is the decisive force in the negotiations currently Russia.
Of Rojava after kassel. Again, there is a left movement, the daily their fighting leads. What would you change in Kassel in these struggles want?
in principle means internationalism a Openness and empathy in the political work for other struggles. If one so therefore says many would probably agree to a, Therefore, I would reference explain examples. There are always discussions, that I mitbekomme. The last one was, that at a demonstration under the slogan “Solidarity with Rojava”, in German and Kurds were common, was criticized, that after challenging came by a fascist salute to Wolf scuffle.
then a Kurdish friend has said in the discussion: “Well, if someone makes a Nazi salute and then would be beaten, you would be much more understanding ". This Wolf Greeting people connect just some. There must Internationalist, of the place only once irritating at this moment, taking the attitude of learners and ask: Why it comes to melee, if someone makes a show of hands? For this, one must understand the history of the hand signal.
“That's the attitude I expect from internationalists and what very often lacking.”
had to flee that people, also people, today live in Kassel, their families were killed by fascists, showing the Wolf Greeting. That means something in the reality of life of these people and you should first try to understand. That's the attitude I expect from internationalists and what very often missing.
Wolf greetings in the Kassel Jägerstraße, October 2019 Those: press department
understanding the one thing, but that does indeed look a certain political attitudes come.
I think it needs a political culture, the remains respectfully within the left respectfully deal with each other and their differences. Or perhaps because of these differences, that one is aware that one is not the same. Even if you partially other conviction, but you can continue to work in spite of these differences. It is a major weakness of the German left just that you look at any little questions aufreibt. You constantly revolves around itself, These political struggles scene without any mediation claim, and forgets completely, to reach the rest of society. Or has perhaps given up a long time. That is a big problem.
Especially, if wants to cooperate with another leftist movement. the Kurdish left movement, the decades of tradition, as well as the German left movement – simply can not suddenly so do as if you were one and had no differences. One has since but are also aware of just in diversity a develop respectful treatment. A friend exaggerates times told, you have to break down prejudices especially: Not all German Left hanging only at pubs counter and not all Kurdish left are Stalinists.
“A friend once told exaggerated, you have to break down prejudices especially: Not all German left hanging only at pubs counter and not all Kurdish leftists are Stalinists.”
If you as openly and empathetically, then you will notice that there is to learn a lot. The Kurdish freedom movement has a long history. It has grown, unlike other leftist movements and not shrunk. She is successful and controlled in the Middle East regions with several million inhabitants, and has tens of thousands of people in the self-defense forces. In relation to the situation in Germany, the question on why urges all this is so. Then you learn at the point where you are willing, where one is open.
That's a good Conclusion. thank you for the talk!