BLOOD ON THE STREETS AND FEARS FOR THE FUTURE – LAST WEEK IN KURDISTAN - in which I focus on the worrying developments in Syria newsfromkurdistan.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/b...

On the latest developments in Aleppo and in Iran newsfromkurdistan.wordpress.com/2026/01/10/k...

DAMASCUS TURNS ON THE KURDS’ 'IMPREGNABLE FORTRESSES OF RESISTANCE' In which I examine the background to what Ilham Ahmed, has denounced as “a war of extermination against the Kurds”. The attacks are ongoing. www.greenleft.org.au/2026/1445/wo...

"While Abdullah Öcalan called for “a year of peace, not war”, Turkey ended 2025 encouraging Syria’s Transitional Government to attack the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria,... " My sobering look at Kurdish politics as we start 2026. newsfromkurdistan.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/b...

my take on last week's Kurdish news, in which I look at discussions over the future of Syria, developments in the 'peace process', and debates over the nature of socialism. newsfromkurdistan.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/s...

I enjoy not just looking at buildings but also reading them to try and understand why they are the way they are. I hope that this article - compiled from my housing lectures - can help people in Scotland enjoy reading the streets around them. sarahglynn.net/tenements-to...

KURDISH émigrés talk about returning home to Turkey – and if dedication to hope were enough to bring about change, they'd be there tomorrow. In the real uncertain world, their future sits on a knife-edge. My latest for @scotnational.bsky.social www.thenational.scot/politics/256...

Turkey's deposed mayors and the Council of Europe - in which I ask what is being done by Europe's organisation for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - and what more they could be doing? www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...

I interviewed Abdullah Zeydan, deposed DEM Parti co-mayor of Van, who is here in Strasbourg for the Congress of Local Authorities at the Council of Europe www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1441/wo...

In my latest for Green Left I look at Turkey and the Council of Europe and ask what is the point of lobbying www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1440/wo...

Turkey is "a democracy but it's kind of authoritarian" so America's "genius" president will give Erdoğan "legitimacy". Oh and "Erdogan keeps Lockheed moving". Another demonstration of the skills of US Ambassador Tom Barrack x.com/mintelworld/...

Next Saturday John Clarke and I will be speaking on CLIMATE and CLASS at an online forum hosted by the Global Ecosocialist Network and Marxmail. If you would like to join us you can register for the event here: forms.gle/K8D8w72Tn2ih... You can also find our wee book here: climateandclass.net

In my latest for Green Left I examine the Turkish Kurdish “peace process” www.greenleft.org.au/content/ther...

Over the years I have spent a lot of time grappling with the contradictions inherent in our relationship with TRADITION - as an academic, as an activist, and in my own life. I have tried to sum up these contradictions and the questions they raise:

What is happening in Syria and what does it mean for Kurds and other minorities - my latest for @GreenLeftOnline www.greenleft.org.au/content/conf...

A week ago, I spoke at a Green Left @GreenLeftOnline meeting looking at the Kurds and the Israel-US war on Iran. I chose to look at the current situation in the context of a century of imperialism. This is my speech – written and prerecorded video. links.org.au/imperialism-...

In memory of Tom Lehrer, who died two days ago and whose songs span the generations www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPm...

My latest article for @GreenLeftOnline looks at what has been happening in the Druze governorate of Suwayda and its implications for the future of Syria www.greenleft.org.au/content/suwa...

Anticipating the PKK's firs disarmament My latest article for Green Left www.greenleft.org.au/content/anti...

With this brief tour of the 4 parts of Kurdistan, I end my weekly news column. Medya News is closing, but I intend to go on providing analysis of key developments, so please look out for future articles in Green Left, and also via my website, below medyanews.net/after-the-wa...

The short war between Israel and Iran has left the world a more dangerous place- a round-up of current events in the 4 parts of Kurdistan, centring on the crackdown on Iranian Kurds and the political prisoners in Evin Prison. medyanews.net/after-the-wa...

Amidst fears of Armageddon, Kurds are dreaming of autonomy within Iran. This week’s article examines both the huge risks being taken by Israel and America, and the political thinking of the Kurdish groups who hope to see an Iranian 'Rojava Revolution' medyanews.net/hopes-and-fe...

Les sans-abri et des centaines de leurs sympathisants étaient devant la préfecture de Strasbourg ce soir

Hope has always been an essential part of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, but when it comes to the “Peace Process”, there are many grounds for concern. I look at the need for progressive forces to come together in the struggle for democracy. medyanews.net/interrogatin...

As N&E Syria negotiates its future, I look at what the Autonomous Administration has achieved and how, yet again, US & friends have promoted Islamist reactionaries rather than risk encouraging a progressive alternative that might challenge their control. medyanews.net/how-far-can-...

After the PKK’s decision to dissolve/disarm: what the Turkish Gov needs to do next, versus what they have done, & lessons from Northern Ireland. + While Kurds reaffirm radical politics, Trump deals arms and Syria falls within the US sphere of influence. medyanews.net/peace-proces...

Politics surrounding the expected announcement of the dissolution of the PKK. The Paris meeting between Macron and Syria’s Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa. The relative weakness and short-term pragmatism of al-Sharaa e.g. worrying recent appointments. medyanews.net/between-war-...

Remembering the other 8 May 1945 and the massacre of thousands of Algerians by French colonial troops - Strasbourg

The importance of the Kurdish Unity Conference is highlighted by the sectarian violence against the Druze in southern Syria, fuelled by troubled post-war conditions. And all is made more dangerous by the disruptive roles being played by Israel and Turkey. medyanews.net/kurdish-unit...

The BBC documents the Turkish military take over of northern Iraq and the role of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. (This was made before Öcalan's call for PKK dissolution and the PKK ceasefire but this is acknowledged at the end) www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVU...

Israeli minister, Smotrich, claims Israel won't stop fighting till Syria's divided. Turkey & al-Sharaa will no doubt try & equate this with the Kurdish call for decentralisation, - on the contrary, decentralisation would enable Syrian stability as a whole.

Yesterday's Kurdish Unity conference was a powerful and dignified demand for an inclusive, democratic and decentralised Syria, which cannot be ignored. My article this week explores the background to it. medyanews.net/uniting-syri...

Turkey is at a dangerous crossroads, and Scotland's former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, is aligning himself with the country's would-be dictator www.commonweal.scot/articles/mag...

Quiet diplomacy has brought Syria some provisional agreements that demonstrate the possibility of retaining regional autonomy, despite Turkey’s looming presence. Meanwhile in Turkey, hopes for peace are currently focussed on an Istanbul hospital... medyanews.net/syria-negoti...

The Global Ecosocialist Network invited us to make an online presentation of our book at their meeting. Here is their video of the event. climateandclass.net/2025/04/16/a...

In Turkey, hopes for peace talks have been revived by the DEM Party’s visit to Erdoğan, but democracy is still under assault. In Syria, negotiations have yielded some positive results for N and E Syria, but Trump’s admiration for Erdoğan brings new dangers medyanews.net/erdogan-trum...

An interim agreement between the the Kurdish majority neighbourhoods of Aleppo and the caretaker government in Damascus that could be a step towards a solution for N and E Syria - while Turkey and Israel compete for control over the country. medyanews.net/syrian-negot...

Öcalan a célébré son 76e anniversaire en lançant un appel à la jeunesse kurde pour qu'elle s'organise et se mobilise. ocalanvigil.net/fr/2025/04/0...

In his lust for power, Erdoğan has imprisoned his main presidential rival, producing a mass reaction in defence of democracy. In Syria he enjoys strong influence with the interim government, but the future remains very uncertain. medyanews.net/erdogans-emp...

I spoke to the chair of the panel of judges of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal about her reaction to the evidence of Turkey's crimes against Rojava youtu.be/-k99BJSp6Bo

Turkey has chosen authoritarianism and war, refusing to enable the PKK to dissolve, continuing military violence in Syria, and trying to destroy the remnants of Turkish Democracy. Peace and Democracy are intertwined, and both are being asphyxiated. medyanews.net/erdogan-mock...

Only recently we were writing that Turkey was at a crossroads. Now it seems Erdoğan has chosen his path - not peace, but autocracy and war. Two days ago Turkish bombs killed a family of ten near Kobanê. Now this bianet.org/haber/istanb...

A historic week for Syria began with the horrors of the mass killings of Alawites, and ended with fears of a new Islamist dictatorship. In between, hopes were raised by an initial agreement between the Interim Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces. medyanews.net/snakes-and-l...

With renewed calls for peace in Turkey and ongoing uncertainties in Syria, what might persuade other countries to help tip the balance towards peace? Can they recognise it as being in their own interests? medyanews.net/who-will-sup...

Leroy Douglas stole a mobile phone - but he's been in prison twenty years Leroy, 43, has spent almost half his life in prison because he stole a mobile phone. The reason is because he's an IPP prisoner www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/...

femme vie liberté! de Kurdistan au monde entier! 8e mars à Strasbourg

Update on John Clarke and my wee book, Climate Change is a Class Issue climateandclass.net/2025/03/05/a...

Just rewatched this film at the Kurdish Community Centre in honour of International Women's Day. If you've not seen it (or even if you have) do watch it. The wonderful Jiyan Tolhildan was killed by Turkey in 2022 www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEQE...

After Öcalan's call to dissolve the PKK, Kurds are caught between hope and fear. I note what the PKK has achieved, and the persistence of ideas beyond the movements that created them. I find optimism in international support and in the engagement of other parties. medyanews.net/peace-the-en...

Including me talking about the Workers’ Circle