In January 2026, a delegation of several youth organisations – including journalists – as well as other human rights/peace activists travelled to the Kurdish areas in Turkey. Their goal was to observe the protests against the military escalation in Syria and bring them into the public eye. The delegation was on its way to the Turkish-Syrian border as part of the ‘Peoples’ Caravan – Caravan for the Defense of Humanity’. There they wanted to express their solidarity with the people in the city of Kobane. The group, however, was arrested by the police and the participants of the delegation exposed serious violations by Turkish officials. According to statements, there was massive violence during the deportation process. Members of the delegation also reported being subjected to physical and psychological violence, sleep deprivation, insults, and threats.

German activist Paula Maier, one of the internationalists taking part in the campaign, announced that she was raped by a Turkish official while being held at a detention center in Istanbul in January.

Rojava'yla dayanışmak için gelen enternasyonalist aktivist Paula Maier, İstanbul GGM'de tecavüze uğradığını açıkladı.

Enternasyonalist dayanışmayı hedef alan gözaltı şiddetini, tecavüzü ve baskıları teşhir ediyoruz.

Kadın bedenine dönük yapılan bu saldırıları kabul etmiyoruz!

pic.twitter.com/Q3uV1p1rp9

— Tevgera Jinên Azad (@NavendTJA)

August 14, 2026

In a written statement denouncing the violence against internationalist activists, the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) said the following:

“The male mentality that wages war against women has, throughout history, manifested itself most starkly through attacks on women’s dignity and bodies. Through violence, femicide, rape, and psychological attacks, domination is imposed on women, while attempts are made to control their lives, their will, and their bodies.

The arrest of activist Paula Maier, who was part of an international delegation opposing the attacks on Rojava, and the sexual assault she was subjected to at a deportation center in Istanbul demonstrate how this patriarchal mentality is reflected through the mechanisms of the state. This should not be treated merely as an isolated incident, but must be assessed within the broader context of the systematic dimensions of violence and repression against women.

As TJK-E, we have been fighting against this mentality for years and have made our position against the male-dominated state mentality of power and domination unequivocally clear. We stress that what happened must be fully investigated through legal channels, those responsible must be identified, and the necessary legal action must be taken.

A mentality that seeks to evade responsibility for violence against women by hiding behind state mechanisms is unacceptable. The use of state mechanisms must not mean covering up what happened or protecting the perpetrators. On the contrary, it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that such incidents are fully investigated and that those responsible are held accountable before the law.

The massacres and policies of violence directed against women in the 21st century are a manifestation of the patriarchal system’s efforts to preserve its own existence. We must intensify our struggle to bring an end to this war against women’s rights, freedom, and will. Holding the perpetrators and those responsible legally accountable will be one of the fundamental measures of ensuring justice and bringing the truth to light.

This system, which targets the lives, freedom, and dignity of thousands of women and seeks to establish control over women’s bodies and will, will undoubtedly one day be dismantled.

In the 21st century, the women’s struggle advancing on the basis of women’s freedom will continue to grow stronger in its resistance to the patriarchal and dominant system. Through the struggle of organized women, the voices of women who have been taken from us and whose voices have been silenced will be heard once again, and justice and truth will be brought to light.

As TJK-E, we once again affirm that we will resolutely continue our struggle against all forms of violence against women, femicide, and the male-dominated state mentality.”

https://english.anf-news.com/women/-83903

https://english.anf-news.com/news/-83706