Kurdish Diaspora in Canada Protests After Syrian Forces Attack Kurdish Districts in Aleppo

Hundreds of members of the Kurdish diaspora gathered in Vancouver this weekend to protest the recent assault on Kurdish neighbourhoods in Aleppo, Syria. The demonstrators demanded urgent action from the Canadian government to pressure Damascus to halt violence against Kurdish civilians.

The protests follow reports of intense military operations between January 8 and 11, during which Syrian government forces and allied Turkish-backed militias reportedly besieged and attacked the predominantly Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. Residents said the offensive forced thousands to flee, and at least two dozen civilians were killed in the fighting.

At the Vancouver rally, community leaders condemned what they described as a coordinated campaign of intimidation and displacement. They argued that the attacks represent a continuation of broader marginalisation of Kurdish communities under Syria’s new government.

One demonstrator, who identified himself as a father of three, said the violence has had a deep psychological impact on Kurdish families worldwide. “When you see children targeted, it changes you,” he told reporters. “It makes you feel helpless, and it leaves scars that never fully heal.”

Several protest organisers also raised concerns about threats and harassment targeting Kurdish activists in Canada. They called on Canadian authorities to protect Kurdish communities and to monitor extremist groups that may be operating within the country.

The protests come amid ongoing political shifts in Syria since the fall of the previous regime. Kurdish leaders and analysts say the new government has increasingly tightened control over areas once managed by Kurdish forces, raising fears of further exclusion and violence against minorities.

In recent months, Kurdish officials had engaged in negotiations with Damascus over integration into the national army and the return of state authority in Kurdish-controlled regions. But critics say the recent attacks have shattered any trust in these agreements.

Protesters in Canada urged Ottawa to use diplomatic leverage and sanctions to press Syria to stop the assaults and to respect the rights of Kurdish citizens. They also called for stronger international protection for civilians caught in the conflict.

A spokesperson for the Kurdish community in Calgary described the situation as a “humanitarian emergency” and warned that the conflict’s consequences are not limited to the Middle East. “This is not only happening far away,” they said. “It affects Kurdish families here, too.”

The Canadian government has not yet issued a public response to the demonstrations, but Kurdish leaders say they will continue to mobilise and press officials for a firm stance.