JINHA

NEWS CENTER -An 18-year-old Kurdish woman has appeared in court charged with a "terror offence," after she allegedly tried to join the YPJ to defend the Rojava revolution from Daesh.

Kurdish Question reported that ShilanOzcelik (ŞilanÖzçelik), of Highbury Quadrant, Holloway, North London, was arrested at Stansted Airport after she arrived on a flight from Germany on January 16. She is accused of travelling to Brussels on October 27 and attempting to join the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in Rojava.

Ozcelik faces one charge of engaging in conduct in preparation for giving effect to an intention to commit acts of terrorism underthe 2006 Terrorism Act.

Shilan spoke only to confirm her name, age and address during the short hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. District Judge John Zani remanded her in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on April 1. As she was led away from the dock, she smiled and appeared to mouth "it's okay" to her brother, in the public gallery.

The UK governmenthas sent a number of signals that itwants to criminalizethose who want to fight Daesh, even as the UK government's track record on the fight against Daesh in Syria, say the pro-democracygroups and Kurds in England, is one of neglect and shame.

The UK Defence Committee recently produced a report on the "Fight Against ISIS in Syria and Iraq," for example, with not one mention of the YPG/YPJ'slong battle against Daesh for the last three years, culminating in the first major defeat against Daesh after its seemingly unstoppable march across the Middle East. Top UK barrister Margaret Owen has given a detailed report on the YPG/YPJ heroic resistance against Daesh which has somehow evaded government attention.

Recently, the first UK internationalist volunteer died in battle against ISIS, YPG fighter Konstandinos Erik Scurfield (Heval Kemal). Kurds say the UK government has behaved equally shamefully in regards to the repatriation of his body.

A petition has been launched at change.org,called "Free ShilanOzcelik now!"No jury would convict Shilan for wanting to join the YPJ, a legal organization, says the petition. The petition says that the only reason for this sudden action can be to placate NATO member Turkey, which has a record of covertly supporting Daesh.

The petition to UK Home Secretary Theresa May for Shilan's immediate release can be found at https://www.change.org/p/uk-home-office-minister-theresa-may-free-shilan-ozcelik-now

(nt/cm)