KURDISTAN

Latest News

• Two co-mayors released, another sentenced to 8 years in prison 

  Co-mayors of Van’s Özalp and Saray districts have been released, while former co-mayor of Dersim, Edibe Şahin has received 8 years and 9 months prison sentence.
• Six Turkish soldiers killed in Semdinli 

  At least six Turkish soldiers killed as HPG guerrillas took action against Turkish invasion attempt in the border region near Semdinli, a district of Hakkari province.
• HPG statement on the attack on the “Iranian unit” 

  HPG Press Center has issued a written statement on the attack against a unit on the Iran-Turkey border on December 4. HPG announced that Turkish soldiers had attacked the Iranian unit.
• Turkish army enters Southern Kurdistan territory - UPDATED 

  The Turkish army has launched an invasion attempt in Southern Kurdistan by making dispatches to the Haci Beg River, Gelîyê Reşo and the Siro Mountain.
• Tevgera Azadi officially recognized in Iraq 

  Tevgera Azadi has announced that they will be conducting their activity in Iraq and the Kurdistan region as an official party from now on.
• Tensions still high in Tuz Kurmatu 

  Tensions continue to run high in the Kurdish province of Tuz Kurmatu which has been taken over by the Iraqi army and the Hashd al Shaabi forces.
• “Legal ways should be used against Turkey’s and Iran’s attacks” 

  Sulaymaniyah University Law Department Chairperson Dr. Şoreş Hesen stated that Iraq should exercise its legal rights against attacks by Turkey and Iran and take the attacks to the UN.
• Call for participation to Sister Family Campaign in Şırnak 

  Families from Şırnak who settled in the Toptepe village after their homes were demolished during the curfews point to the harsh winter conditions and called for participation to the 1000 Sister Families Campaign.
• Name change for Shengal Women’s Park in Van 

  The sign in Shengal Women’s Park has been taped over by the order of the trustee appointed to the Ipekyolu Municipality. The word “Shengal” has been replaced by “Dicle Idrak”.
• Two years later in Cizre: 16 bodies still unaccounted for 

  It has been two years since the curfews in Cizre, but 16 bodies are still unaccounted for. Families state that the bodies are in the area where TOKİ construction is underway, and demand gravestones where they can mourn their children.
• “KRG government is silent on Turkish and Iranian attacks” 

  Activists from Halabja protested the bombardment of civilian areas by Turkish and Iranian warplanes, saying that Kurdistan Regional Government officials are silent on Turkish and Iranian states’ fascist attacks on Kurdistan lands.
• Turkey detains 13 old men from the same village in Siirt 

  Turkish police detained 13 men aged between 40 to 90 in Ergüven (Belek) village in Kurtalan, a district of Siirt province.
• Curfew in villages of Hasankeyf 

  The Turkish state continues imposing curfews as part of military operations conducted against the PKK across Northern Kurdistan territory.
• Another kolbar dies of cold in Rojhilat 

  A kolbar lost his life on his way back from the border areas due to severe snow and blizzards at the highlands of Oshnavieh border.
• Turkish soldiers detain residents of a whole village in Siirt 

  Soldiers raided a village in Siirt’s Kurtalan village and detained all the residents. On the other hand, more than 20 people from this village were detained in Batman city.
• Turkish jets bomb Xakurke and Metina 

  Turkish fighter jets shelled Xakurke and Metina regions of Medya Defense Zones yesterday.
• Four women arrested in Iran 

  An Iranian court arrested four women who were detained during a village raid in Ilam.
• Turkish army continues to bomb villages in Southern Kurdistan 

  The Turkish army is bombing Kurdish villages in the border region between Southern and Northern Kurdistan. Villager’s fields and vineyards are also deliberately targeted.
• Insulting the dead 

  Mele Yusuf Andan, an undertaker of 28 years, said: “Bodies of three people who diedin Lice were given to their families 76 days later. I saw the bodies, their heads were gone. Two years ago, I stitched a body in 40 pieces together inside the coffin."
• Earthquake victims still stay in tents despite winter conditions 

  Thousands are fighting for their lives in tents for a month since the earthquake that his Eastern (Rojhilat) and Southern (Bashurê) Kurdistan on November 12.
• Iranian forces kill the horses of kolbars in Rojhilat 

  Iranian forces have killed horses on which kolbars carry their cargo in Rojhilat, Eastern Kurdistan.
• Turkish jets shell Sidekan 

  Turkish fighter jets have shelled Mount Benê in Sidekan town in Southern Kurdistan on Monday.
• Turkey declares curfew in Mardin 

  Turkish administration declared a curfew in four neighbourhoods of Nusaybin, a district of Mardin province.
• Kurdish kolbars beaten by the border guards in Sardasht 

  On 6 December, a number of kolbars were arrested, beaten and disrespected for several hours on their way back at the border areas of Sardasht by the border guards although they were not carrying any foreign goods.
• Activist detained by KDP goes on hunger strike 

  Activist Takur Zerdeşti who was detained by KDP asayish in Duhok four days ago, has started hunger strike.