Touching Freedom: Centre for Kurdish Studies Event - The Siege of Kobani
| A Centre for Kurdish Studies research event | |
|---|---|
| Date | 1 November 2024 |
| Time | 17:00 to 19:00 |
| Place | IAIS LT1 and 2 |
| Provider | Centre for Kurdish Studies |
Event details
The Centre for Kurdish Studies invites you to join us for our next event 'Touching Freedom',
Exclusive screening and discussion event featuring first-hand accounts of one of the most pivotal chapters in the Syrian conflict:
The Siege of Kobani
Refreshments 16.30-17.00
Chaired by Dr Yunus Abakay
As well as screening of footage documenting life before and during the ISIS offensive, hear live discussion and Q&A with documentarians Jenkidar and Hussein, joining us remotely from Barcelona and Paris.
Our documentarians, now refugees in Europe, will share their experiences and reflections on the challenges of filming during active conflict, the emotional toll of witnessing their hometown under siege, the importance of preserving these stories for future generations. Through their lenses, we honour the memory of those who defended Kobani against extremism.
Historical Context: In September 2014, ISIS launched a major offensive against Kobani, a Kurdish-majority town on the Syrian-Turkish border. By October 2, ISIS forces had reached the city outskirts, igniting intense urban warfare. The 134-day siege resulted in displacement of approximately 400,000 people, thousands of casualties, and a turning point in the territorial defeat of ISIS in Syria.