Kurdish marchers gather on the Place de la Republique in Paris. AFP
Kurdish marchers gather on the Place de la Republique in Paris. AFP
Kurdish marchers gather on the Place de la Republique in Paris. AFP
Kurdish marchers gather on the Place de la Republique in Paris. AFP

Kurds march in Paris 10 years after unsolved triple killing


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Thousands of Kurds marched in Paris on Saturday to mark 10 years since the unsolved killing of three Kurdish women in the French capital.

The march came a fortnight after three Kurds were killed in Paris in what prosecutors called a racist attack.

Under police escort, Kurdish campaigners from around Europe travelled by bus to Saturday’s march.

They carried banners with pictures of Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez, the three women fatally shot in the head in January 2013.

Ms Cansiz was a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group regarded as terrorists by Turkey and the European Union.

A Turkish suspect, Omer Guney, was ordered to face trial for the killings but died of a brain tumour before it began.

Many Kurdish activists believe Mr Guney, an airport maintenance worker, was doing the bidding of Turkish intelligence. Turkey denied involvement.

Activists also want France to declassify documents they say are needed to solve the case.

Demonstrators “came from all across France and Europe to call for an end to impunity”, said the Kurdish Democratic Council in France.

The crowd marched from the Gare du Nord railway station to the Place de la Republique, a popular place for demonstrations.

A banner calling for "truth and justice" shows the faces of 2013 shooting victims Fidan Dogan, Sakine Cansiz and Leyla Saylemez. AFP
A banner calling for "truth and justice" shows the faces of 2013 shooting victims Fidan Dogan, Sakine Cansiz and Leyla Saylemez. AFP

Saturday also marked eight years since the attack on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed.

Laurent Sourisseau, a cartoonist who survived the attack, laid a wreath in Paris at a ceremony attended by senior French ministers and the city’s mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Security was tight in Paris following skirmishes at previous Kurdish gatherings, notably in response to last month’s shooting.

The suspect in the December 23 attack told authorities he had a pathological hatred of non-European people, according to prosecutors.

He was handed preliminary charges of racially motivated murder.

Turkey complained to France over what it called propaganda by Kurdish activists, who again suspect political involvement in the shooting.

One slogan displayed on protest banners in Paris read: “The Turkish government has massacred three more Kurds.”

Turkey's hard line on the PKK has taken on a wider significance as it delays Sweden and Finland's Nato applications until Ankara is satisfied they are not harbouring Kurdish militants.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Directed by: Jeethu Joseph

Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy

Rating: 4 stars

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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1.

United States

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China

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UAE

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Japan

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Norway

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Canada

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Singapore

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Saudi Arabia

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Asia Cup 2018 final

Who: India v Bangladesh

When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium

Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD

Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

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Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Updated: January 07, 2023, 2:35 PM`