Thousands of members of the Kurdish diaspora demonstrated across several German cities on Saturday, protesting the situation in northern Syria and expressing concern over the future of Kurdish-controlled areas amid shifting international policies.

Large-scale rallies were held in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Bonn, with the largest gathering taking place in Bonn, where police estimated that around 15,000 people participated. Smaller demonstrations were also reported in Stuttgart and Jena. Several hundred police officers were deployed to monitor the protests, which remained peaceful and concluded without incident.

Protesters condemned the recent clashes in northeastern Syria between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month. Many demonstrators warned that the truce remains fragile and voiced fears of renewed displacement and insecurity for Kurdish civilians.

During Syria’s civil war, the SDF emerged as the United States’ primary local ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, playing a decisive role in its territorial defeat in 2019. However, demonstrators said international support now appears uncertain following political changes in Damascus. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

While the United States did not intervene militarily during the latest round of fighting in northeastern Syria, it urged both sides to agree to a ceasefire, emphasizing its preference for a negotiated settlement. Kurdish protesters in Germany said this approach has heightened concerns that international backing for Kurdish forces is weakening at a critical moment.