Over a hundred MPs, journalists, intellectuals, women’s rights activists, human rights activists and civil society members from South Kurdistan have penned a letter calling for immediate action by international authorities in the face of the Turkish state’s use of chemical weapons in its ongoing war against the guerrilla forces in southern Kurdistan, northern Iraq.

The letter is addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, members of the Executive Council of OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) and the UN office for Disarmament Affairs. The signatories call on the mentioned authorities to urgently send an independent commission and conduct investigations in the affected areas.

“We believe that conducting such an investigation is not only your legal and institutional obligation but also a moral and human duty,” says the letter, which reads as follows:

“The Turkish army has been conducting cross-border military operations into Iraqi territory since 1983. The last phase of these operations, which began on April 23rd, 2021, marks a new phase of Turkey’s regional policies and aims at occupying large swathes of Kurdish land within Iraqi territory. Recent military operations have specifically concentrated in the areas of Avashin, Zap, and Metina which are the rural and mountainous areas of Amediye and Duhok. As a result, most civilians have fled the area, turning it into a no-man’s-land. The PKK guerrillas which have been in the area for nearly 40 years have hindered the Turkish army’s advance. Unable to break the defense lines of the guerrillas, the Turkish army has indiscriminately been using chemical weapons, affecting both the guerrillas and the civilian population.  There are claims that the Turkish army is deploying weapons prohibited by the OPCW. These claims are increasingly being supported by video footage and various reports and personal accounts which have been circulating in the media for months. 

As Iraqi Kurds, we have been victims of chemical weapons before. We lost nearly 10,000 of our people during the 1986-1990 period, under the Saddam regime. Our people are still suffering from the complications of these weapons. And now, the Turkish state is doing the same atrocities on our lands. We don’t want to frivolously elaborate on the reasons and agreements behind the prohibition of such weapons. You are already experts on this matter.  Our heart breaks and we are cut to the bone as we witness the death of people and the destruction of our natural life on a daily basis. You may question the validity of our data and reports, so we invite you to come to the area to collect your own data and write your own report.

We, as MPs, journalists, intellectuals, women’s rights activists, human rights activists and civil society members would like to call on you to urgently send an independent commission and conduct investigations in the affected areas. We believe that conducting such an investigation is not only your legal and institutional obligation, but also a moral and human duty." 
Signatories:

1. Professor Mewlud Ibrahim Hasan, Salahaddin University, Irbil, Iraq
2. P.D. Meriwan Omer Hassan Dewlet, University Of Sulaimani, College Of Language-Kurdish Department, Sulaimani - Kurdistan Region, Iraq
3. Dr.Rafiq Sabir, Writer and poet, Uppsala, Sweden
4. Asos Hardi, intellectual and journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
5. Gasha Dara Hafid, Former MP in Kurdistan parliament, Member of Freedom Organisation, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
6. Ari Abbas Qadir, University Lecturer, Polytechnic University of Suleymaniyeh, Iraq
7. Sirwe Nasreddin Majeed, University Lecturer, Suleymaniyeh, Iraq
8. Hakim Abdulkarim Abdulraheem, Politician, Derbendikhan, Iraq
9. Latif Mustafa Emin, Lawyer, Rights activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
10. Nabaz Khalid, Rights activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
11. Dr. Kamaran Mantik, writer and university lecturer, Irbil, Iraq
12. Hawzhin Mela Amin, University lecturer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
13. Mutassam Najmaddin, writer and journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
14. Tariq Fatih Hasan, Hawlati newspaper editor-in-chief, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
15. Pishko Najmadin, Writer and researcher, Stockholm, Sweden
16. Dr. Bizhar Osman Ahmad, University lecturer, Irbil, Iraq
17. Dr. Sherko Hama Amin, Former MP, university lecturer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
18. Ali Karimi, writer, Britain
19. Dr. Jaafar Ali Rasoul, Former MP in Kurdistan Parliament, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
20. Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Ibrahim, USA
21. Beyar Mulazim Omar, Political Activist, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
22. Adnan Kerim, Writer, Australia
23. Dr. Osman Ismail, the Editorial Board of Digest Journal of Academic Studies
24. Fatah Zakhoyi, Civil rights activist, Canada
25. Mihemed Abdullah Aul Muhammad, Freedom Movement Co-Chair, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
26. Namo Rostamzad, University lecturer, Irbil, Iraq
27. Rebwar. Rashed, Civil Seevant, Stokholm
28. Kwestan Davodi, Nurse Assistant, Stokholm
29. Hunar Jaffar Hama, physician, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
30. Sabah Yasin, Writer and researcher, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
31. Nawzad Shuani, Senior Economic Advisor to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Baghdad, Iraq
32. Dr Kirmanj Gundi, Writer, USA
33. Seevan Saeed; Associate Professor in Middle East studies; Shaanxi Normal University-China
34. Dr. Kamal Mirawdali; Writer and poet; London, England
35. Jani Diylan, international broadcaster, journalist, artist, USA
36. Kamal Chomani, Journalist, Germany
37. Dr. Salar Basira, Germany
38. Ali Mahmoud, Rights activist, Irbil
39. Qadir Nadir, Rights activist, Sweden
40. Goran Gharib Mustafa, Rights activist, USA
41. Hiwa Naseh, Activist and Journalist, Switzerland
42. Diyar Aziz Sharif, Writer, France
43. Kazhal Hama Rashid, Human Rights and Women's Rights activist,  Toronto, Canada
44. Simko Rashid, Political Activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
45. Hunar Tewfiq, Writer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
46. Adil Aziz Shukur, Journalist and artist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
47. Abdullah Mela Nouri, Former MP in Kurdistan Parliament, KRI, Iraq
48. Latif Fatih Faraj, Writer, Chamchamal, KRI, Iraq
49. Hemen Mamend, Rights activist and journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
50. Niaz Hamid, Political observer, Canada
51. Aram Ahmed Ali, Political observer, Netherlands.
52. Peykar Osman Ahmad, Writer, Finland
53. Dashti Suleyman Barzewari, Writer and social researcher, KRI, Iraq
54. Karim Ghafour, Journalist and film maker, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
55. Hawraz Mihemed, Researcher and film maker, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
56. Nihad Jami, Writer and theatre actor, Poland
57.  Hawar Mistefa Khan, Film maker
58.  Talib Rasoul, Teacher and artist, Britain
59.   Nabaz Abdullah Rasoul, Artist, Kolhn, Germany
60.   Hemide Yosēfî, Grafîst, Irbil, KRI, Iraq
61. Luqman Zindani, Jounralist and former political prisoner, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
62. Khalid Abdulkarim, Journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
63. Luqman Hassan, Artist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
64. Kawa Nadir Qadir, Writer and Journalist, Irbil, KRI, Iraq
65. Nihad Al Kadi, Nederland
66. Babakir Direyi, Political activist and lawyer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
67. Saman Abu Bakir Ali, Writer and political observer, Stockholm, Sweden
68. Aso Goran mohammed, Political Activist, London
69. Bekes Berwari, Teacher and political activist,  Norway
70. Ibrahim Muhammad Faraj, Political Activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
71.  Karwan Said, High school teacher, Sweden
72.  Majeed Dilniya, Writer, Germany
73. Faraydun Kunjrini, Journalist and civil rights activist, Germany
74. Jabbar Ahmad Ismail, Engineer, Irbil, KRI, Iraq
75. Ali Mawloud, Political Activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
76. Tara Huseyin Muhammad, activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
77. Omed Ali Hama Rahim, Journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
78. Yasin Sabir Amin, Writer, Hannover, Germany
79. Dersim Rahman Farhan, Interpreter, Denmark
80. Mano Barzanji, Writer, Amsterdam, Netherlands
81. Jawhar Mirawdali, Writer, Karitas employee, Norway
82. Dewen Mariuf, Writer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
83. Kawa Ibrahim, Physician, Canada
84. Gona Sirwan Mihemed, Teacher, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
85. Soza Salar Majeed, Teacher, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
86. Barzi Barham Abbas, Artist and student, university of Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
87. Barham Abbas Qadir, employee, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
88. Bahar Huseyin Qadat, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
89.  Idris Ibrahim Soryani, Economist, Stockholm, Sweden
90. Naghada Hassan, High school teacher, Sweden
91. Rashad Huseyin Hassan, teacher, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
92. Jabbar Ahmad Ismail, Engineer, Irbil
93. Abdullah Pola, Former Peshmarga, California, USA
94. Adil Osman Muhammad, political activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
95. Shahla Hafid, Uppsala, Sweden
96. Aram Haji, Researcher and lawyer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
97. Aras Rafik, Self-employed, Canada
98. Pshdar Akoyi, teacher, Germany
99. Hasan Hama Amin Marif, Dentist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
100. Hama Sai Bapir, Writer and artist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
101. Ako Qadir Hama, Social Researcher, Darbandikhan, Iraq
102. Jamal Hamid Karim, teacher, Darbandikhan, Iraq
103. Salahaden Sophy, tockholm Sverige gräningsvägen
104. Alwan Abdullah Hasan, Women’s rights activist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
105. Farhad Younes Abdullah, teacher, Chamchamal, KRI, Iraq
106. Reshan Muhammad Abdullah, Lawyer, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
107. Tishna Muhammda Abdullah, Civil Manager, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
108. Rojbin Muhammad Abdullah, Student of Medicine, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq
109. Omar Muhammad, Journalist, Suleymaniyeh, KRI, Iraq

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