Several demonstrators were hurt as Syrian police dispersed a sit-in by hundreds of Kurds to demand the return of Syrian nationality to thousands who lost it 43 years ago, a Kurdish party said. "Hundreds of Kurds gathered in Shahbandar Square in Damascus in response to a call from several parties to protest against the policy of oppression against the Kurds and against a racist census in 1962" in the northern province of Hassakeh, the Azadi Party said. Around 200,000 Kurds had their nationality withdrawn at the time. Their identity cards were confiscated and they were denied civil rights. "Despite the peaceful nature of the sit-in, police and security services beat the demonstrators, injuring a number of citizens, including Mustafa Jumaa, the number two of Azadi," the party said in a statement.