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Sudanese nationals gathered in Istanbul’s Beyazit Square on Saturday to protest the humanitarian crisis caused by Sudan’s civil war, calling attention to reported atrocities in el-Fasher and urging greater international attention.
The gathering was held in Istanbul’s Beyazit Square at the invitation of the Sudanese Students Association, the Sudanese community, and the General Union of Sudanese Students.
Several event organizers delivered speeches highlighting the scale of the humanitarian tragedy in the city of el-Fasher in the Darfur region, and the violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians.
The forces seized el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, and carried out massacres against civilians on Oct. 26, according to local and international organizations, amid warnings of cementing a geographic division of the country.
The demonstration aimed to draw attention to the grave human rights violations faced by the Sudanese people, including violence, forced displacement, looting, and systematic destruction of infrastructure. Participants urged the international community not to “forget Sudan.”
Nagi El-Kershabi, a Sudanese community spokesperson, told Türkiye Today that the group appreciated the cooperation of Turkish officials in organizing the event.
El-Kershabi said the community “expresses its deep gratitude to the friendly Turkish people,” particularly praising the stance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on developments in Sudan.
He also thanked local authorities in Istanbul for what he described as “great cooperation and understanding” in ensuring the rally was held smoothly.
He reaffirmed the community’s support for the Sudanese Armed Forces, calling them the country’s “legitimate army,” and praised the resolve of Sudanese civilians “defending their land and dignity.”
El-Kershabi voiced deep concern over reported atrocities in el-Fasher and western Sudan, condemning “massacres and violations” attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
He called on the international community to hold the RSF and its supporters accountable under international law and to formally designate the group as a “terrorist organization.”
Despite the severity of the conflict, El-Kershabi expressed optimism, saying he believes “justice will prevail and Sudan will emerge stronger from this ordeal,” adding that the Sudanese community in Türkiye remains committed to advocating for their homeland.
Addressing the spread of false or incomplete information about the conflict, Maha Bakhit, one of the rally participants, criticized what she described as limited media attention to Sudan’s crisis.
“There are horrors in el-Fasher like those of Judgment Day,” said Bakhi, describing the scale of violence and human suffering in the besieged Darfur city.
She said that there is a significant amount of misinformation that remains uncorrected due to limited media coverage of this issue, further deepening misunderstandings about what is happening in Sudan.”
Bakhit rejected framing the conflict as internal, arguing instead that it represents “a systematic aggression against the Sudanese state, its people, and its institutions.”
“We also want the world to stand with us,” Bakhit said, reflecting growing frustration over limited global attention to the crisis.
The International Association of Lawyers condemned what it described as “inhuman crimes” in Sudan, urging the international community, the United Nations, and human-rights groups to act.
The association said the violations constitute war crimes and called on all those who value human rights to speak out and help end the violence.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned attacks on civilians in el-Fasher, expressing deep concern over recent developments. Ankara said it is closely monitoring the situation and supports the Arab League’s statement on the events.
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