On January 14, the Center for Kurdish Progress hosted an event to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Kurds for Labour in London. The event was attended by various ministers, members of Parliament, lords, and also the general supervisor of the Kurdish Diaspora Confederation.

“Fifteen years ago, we established Kurds for Labour to ensure that the Kurdish community had a voice in the UK. Over the years, the community has become more familiar with the Labour Party. Today, we have grown to 40 councils across London, and we proudly have a mayor and a member of Parliament who is also a minister,” Ibrahim Dogus, founder of the Center for Kurdish Progress, told Kurdistan Chronicle.

Councillor Sarbaz Barznji, the former Mayor of Lambeth and Chair of Kurds for Labour, also spoke to Kurdistan Chronicle. “We are celebrating the return of the Labour government, which can deliver for the people of this country,” he said. “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in supporting our candidates across the nation and mobilizing the Kurdish community to back Labour candidates.”

Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Kurdish Diaspora Confederation, congratulated the Labour Party in his speech and provided a brief history of the sacrifices made by Kurds for freedom in the Middle East, emphasizing their significant role in defeating ISIS.

He urged members of Parliament and the House of Lords present at the event to stand with the Kurdish cause and ask the government to increase support for the Kurds. Additionally, he called for the BBC to include the Kurdish language in its broadcasts.

Feryal Clark, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government, addressed the attendees and emphasized the Kurdish community’s role within the Labour Party. “Every British government I’ve witnessed since entering politics has recognized the importance of the Kurds in Kurdistan and the surrounding countries,” Clark said in response to questions from Kurdistan Chronicle regarding the current relations between the UK government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. “This relationship can and should be improved. We are committed to ensuring that the Labour Party understands the needs of the thousands of Kurdish families who call the UK home.

“Kurds for Labour is about giving a strong voice to Kurdish communities within the Labour Party,” she added.

Kurds for Labour is dedicated to representing and advocating for Kurdish communities within the Labour Party. As the board member of the organization highlighted, their mission is to provide a unified voice for the Kurdish population, promoting their interests and ensuring their active participation in the political process. Their aim is to bridge the gap between the Kurdish community and the Labour Party, ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of the Kurds in the UK are heard and addressed.