Cities across Europe celebrated World Kobanê Day on 1 November.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attacked the northern Syrian city of Kobanê in the fall of 2014, before being repelled by Kurdish forces in 2015. The victory is remembered every year on 1 November as World Kobanê Day.

This year’s World Kobanê Day was also celebrated as World Rojava Day.

In Basel, Switzerland, the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) held a well-attended event titled “From Basel to Rojava, anti-Fascist Struggle”. Internationalist activists from around the world attended the event. Thousands of people chanted slogans during the march.

Activities and events took place in the city of Västerås in Sweden. Attending in Västerås were co-chairs of the Kurdish Community Nadia Başur and Rıdvan Altun, as well as representatives of the Left Party. Nadia Başur made a statement during the event saying that the resistance spirit of Kobanê continued in Haftanin.

World Kobanê Day was also celebrated in Rome, Italy. Several protesters came together in the Piazza Mirti under the campaign title, “End Isolation, Fascism, Invasion: It is time to ensure freedom”. Vincenzo Mulicci spoke on behalf of RETE Kurdistan and said that the Kobanê resistance was a revolution against the ISIS mindset.

Kurdish people and their supporters also gathered in the city of Freibourg in Germany and to celebrate World Kobanê Day.