Peace in Kurdistan Campaign writes to UK Prime Minister over Turkish bombing of Kurdistan

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign wrote an open letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the systematic bombing against civilian areas by Turkish forces in Northern Iraq.

The letter was supported by 80 Coalition Against Chemical Weapons members.

The letter said: “We write to you on an urgent basis following the news overnight of the aerial attacks on civilian targets in Northern Iraq by Turkish forces. 

On 1 February at 10 pm the Turkish Air Force carried out a systematic bombing campaign against civilian areas throughout Iraqi Kurdistan. These areas include the Refugee Camp in Mexmûr (Maxmur), which is a UNHRC registered camp) Geliyê Kersê,  Barê and Çil Mêra near Şengal (Sinjar) in Southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq); as well as the village of Teqil Beqil near Dêrik in Rojava (northern Syria).

Maxmur Camp houses approximately 12,000 Kurdish people displaced from Turkey in the 1990s. The UNHCR completed a registration process in order to build international confidence in the civilian nature of the camp, countering Turkish state attempts to conflate the camp with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Two were killed and many more were injured as a result of the Turkish air strike on Maxmur Camp.

There were further simultaneous attacks against majority Kurdish regions in Northeast Syria yesterday evening with four members of the Syrian Democratic Forces killed and five civilians injured. At least 20 missiles also struck a number of villages in Shengal region, the home of the Yazidi people.  

The West has said “Never Again” regarding genocide, yet Turkey is continually allowed to pursue its genocidal barbarism against millions of Kurds throughout Kurdistan. We therefore call on the UK Government to use all diplomatic means to pressure Turkey to bring these genocidal and racist attacks to an immediate end, to implement economic sanctions if necessary, and to implement its claim to put people and principles at the heart of its foreign policy.”

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