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.
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.
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
More from our neighbourhood series:
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
