Public protests continue in Swiss cities against Turkey
Several thousand people have again marched in Swiss cities to protest against Turkey’s military offensive against Kurdish regions in Syria.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch with Keystone-SDA/ug
The demonstrators in the cities of Geneva, Bern and Lucerne called for an immediate end to the violence and oppression by the Turkish regime against the Kurds. They also urged Switzerland to stop weapons exports to Turkey and to impose financial sanctions.
The protests were organised by the Kurdish community supported by left-wing Swiss political parties, trade unions as well as the pacifist Switzerland Without an Army group.
On Friday, demonstrations also took place in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Basel against the Turkish offensive in Syria.
Condemnation
The military conflict in the border region between Syria and Turkey has also raised concern in western Europe that militant Islamic groups could regain strength.
However, Switzerland stopped short of imposing economic sanctions against Turkey.
For its part, the Swiss parliament on Friday decided to suspend preparations to introduce a regular exchange of tax data with Ankara.
A Senate committee argued Turkey’s military offensive was a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
Estimations about the number of Kurdish immigrants in Switzerland vary widely between 15,000 and 60,000.
More
More
‘If I can’t return to Switzerland, I’d prefer a bullet in the head’
This content was published on
In northeast Syria, Swiss public television (RTS) interviewed a Swiss jihadist who has been detained by the Kurds since January 2018.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss government calls on Turkey to cease fire in Syria
This content was published on
The Swiss government has called for Turkey to implement an immediate ceasefire in Syria. It is also taking steps to facilitate humanitarian aid.
Thousands in Zurich protest Turkey’s Syria offensive
This content was published on
Several thousand Kurds and sympathisers demonstrated on Saturday afternoon in Zurich against the Turkish offensive in northern Syria.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.