KDP stops demonstration by “human shields”

Security forces of South Kurdistan’s ruling party KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) have stopped a demonstration of ” human shields” at the Dêgele checkpoint near Koye. The participants of the initiative of the “Patriotic Youth Movement of South Kurdistan” and the “Movement of Young Revolutionary Women” against the Turkish invasion of the autonomous region, which has been going on since April, are not allowed to cross the checkpoint. The organizers have announced that they will carry out a sit-in strike if the blockade is not ended. 

The action of the ” human shields”, in which older people also participate, including mothers and fathers of activists of the youth movement, has been running since Sunday morning within the framework of the declared mobilization. The starting point was the city of Koye in the governorate of Hewlêr, the target of the demonstration is the Behdinan region. According to KDP security at the Dêgele checkpoint, the governor of Hewlêr, Omed Khoshnaw, will decide whether the action may continue or be dissolved.

Since April 23, the Turkish army has been attacking the regions of Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna on the territory of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Officially, the invasion is directed against the PKK, but Turkey is systematically bombing civilian settlement areas in addition to guerrilla retreat areas. Several dozen villages in the Turkish-Iraqi border area have already been depopulated, and the Turkish army is also building new military roads with the aim of creating a buffer zone in the region.