One of the most important things about political struggle I have learned in the last decade or so, is that it is the home of hope. Hope is not just some superficial or even void concept about the fulfilment of petty wishes for tomorrow or the day after, but an important driver in the social movement for change. Big changes for the better have always come from people who gave their lives to the struggle, from the abolishment of slavery and apartheid to the struggle of the suffragettes and the LGBT community.

Two Turkish-backed military groups operating within the occupied region of Afrin in Syria’s northwest have been targeted recently by United States sanctions. However, until the US admits that Turkey is the planner, bankroller, and the one who stands to benefit from the human rights abuses and demographic change in Afrin, actions like the recent sanctions will never go far enough.

Turkey is continuing the violent occupation of autonomous Kurdish lands that it started one and a half century ago. Framing it as a war against terrorism, effectively shuts the international community up about it. The Kurdistan Regional Government, autonomous is name only, cooperates with Turkey in a desperate effort to hang on to its own power and to contain Iran’s influence.

Turkey is attacking the Zap region, citing PKK as pretext, to eliminate all Kurdish gains. Their aim is to gain military superiority and eliminate the Federal Kurdistan Region completely or control it. The most effective weapon in this plan is [Barzani's] KDP... Political observers believe that Barzani is willing to let Turkey take control of Kurdistan in order to protect his family dynasty.

In her latest analysis, Fréderike Geerdink explores the symbolic significance of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's isolation, drawing parallels with the broader Kurdish struggle in Turkey. She underscores the strategic importance of focusing on Öcalan's freedom as a catalyst for a democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue, likening his situation to Nelson Mandela's.

What Kurdish feudal and religious leaders had not expected was the rapid secularization measures that Atatürk embarked upon. The most important was the formal abolition of the caliphate in March 1924. These measures were a reason for one now legendary Kurdish leader to join a resistance that had been plotted against the new government by Kurdish nationalists, who were united in the secret movement Azadî (Freedom). His name was Shaykh Said. The Azadî nationalists were caught plotting and were either arrested or backed out, but Shaykh Said had the support of the people and decided to rise up without Azadî.

Why is the Lausanne Treaty still so important? - read the latest article for Medya News by Robin Fleming.

For Erdoğan, Sweden’s desperation to join NATO is a gift that keeps on giving. Every moment that he keeps Sweden waiting provides the opportunity for him to squeeze further concessions from the Swedish government and from other countries that are also desperate to see Sweden’s accession – notably the United States. This week’s news review focuses on the NATO summit, but also looks, among other things, at threats to Öcalan, developments in the Turkish courts, the dominance of religious cults, Iranian attacks on Kurds in Iraq, and continued pressure from Turkey on North and East Syria.

At first glance, it may look like this stress will be over once Sweden is admitted to NATO, but that is wishful thinking. Sweden will then comply more than ever to the rules of the international alliances that dance to Turkey’s anti-terrorism tune. Giving up neutrality doesn’t lead to a new kind of neutrality, it leads to compliance.