Kurdish Manitobans rally, ask Canada to help stop violence in Kobani

Manitobans from Kurdistan held a rally at the Manitoba Legislature Monday. 

They are pleading with Canadians to help stop the violence caused by militants in Kobani, on the border between Syria and Turkey. 

• ISIS fight: Turkey helping anti-ISIS Kurds defend Kobani on Syria border

Organizer Shorsh Kurd Palani said Kurds here, while from many different countries in the Middle East, are uniting as one voice to send a strong message to the international community.

"That we can prevent this. That this is preventable," he said. "And we have to do something about it. Because humanity can not watch another genocide to happen as we did see in Rawanda."

Kurds come from several areas affected by the conflict, including Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.

The demonstrators also asked for weapons and ammunition so Kurds can defend themselves against ISIS.

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They also said that since 2012, people in the region have established a democratic and self-governing system that proves that people of differing backgrounds can live in harmony and with respect for individual rights.

​Palani said the group is urging the Canadian government to put pressure on the Turkish government to allow humanitarian aid to Kobani.