(23 Oct 2019) Protesters blocked the gate of a military equipment supplier on Wednesday, belonging to the German Rheinmetall defense group. Demonstrators were seen chained to the main gate of the Rome factory, to block the alleged shipment of cannons to Turkey.
The activists, from various pro-Kurdish and pro-Rojava grassroots movements united under the "Rise Up For Rojava" campaign.
They urged the Italian government to stop future exports to Turkey and orders that have already been authorized.
"We want to prevent our country from being an accomplice of the aggressor and of the genocide of the Kurdish people," said campaigner for Rise Up For Rojava, Riccardo Carraro.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has told lawmakers that Italy will block all future arms exports to Turkey, as agreed in Luxembourg by the EU foreign ministers. He said he also has ordered an examination of existing contracts.
Protesters were also unhappy about the recent ceasefire in northern Syria and claimed it wasn't respected by Turkish forces.
Kurdish-led forces have complained that Turkey was violating the US-brokered ceasefire by continuing the siege and assault on Ras al-Ayn and preventing the evacuation of wounded.
Turkish troops invaded northern Syria earlier this month.
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