PROTESTERS highlighting the deteriorating situation and possible loss of more life in a Syrian city marched down Cowley Road and into Oxford.

Turkish-backed forces tore down a legendary Kurdish statue yesterday as a two-month campaign to get rid of the Kurdish YPG militia – which Turkey claims is a terrorist group – seems to draw to an end.

Activists claim that nearly 300 people have died and 650 others have been injured as a result of the action but Turkey denies this. The country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said soldiers from the Free Syrian Army took hold of the centre of Afrin City.

It is at the heart of the Syrian Kurdish Afrin region. A demonstration supported by the Oxford Emergency Committee for Afrin started in Manzil Gardens at about 3.30pm today and was backed by some members of the Kurdish and Syrian community living in Oxfordshire.

Committee member Rojeen Qaqu said the demonstration “highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation and grave danger of further loss of life in Afrin City”.

Oxford East and Witney constituency Labour parties also backed the campaign at meetings over the last few weeks. Following the demo, a rally was held at the New Road Baptist Church in Oxford.

Speakers included Macer Gifford, a British former currency trader who travelled to Syria to fight Islamic State.