Dr. Cemal Cembeli, a doctor from Rojava who worked in a hospital in Zakho for 2 years, was deported from South Kurdistan 3 days ago for treating members of the YPG. Cembelli said: “I have not asked anyone for an ID before treating them. I didn’t discriminate between peshmerga and YPG members.”

According to local sources, the KDP Asayish (police) had previously threatened Dr. Cembell several times. However, Dr. Cembelli had continued to treat YPG fighters despite these threats. The Zakho Asayish linked to the KDP deported Dr. Cembelli 3 days ago.

He worked in several hospitals in Zakho

Dr Cembelli was the PYD’s representative in Saudi Arabia for 2 years 9 months from 13 October 2010, then on 15 August 2013 he went to Zakho and began to work in the Bêdarê û Şebaniyê hospital as a surgeon.

Dr Cembelli also went to Rojava from time to time and treated both YPG fighters and pesmerga fighters. He said he had been subjected to inquiries by KDP officials, who had accused him of working for the PYD and PKK. Dr. Cembelli said no charges had been laid against him, adding that KDP officials had told him they would have sentenced him to 20 years in prison if they had had evidence.

Dr. Cembelli was taken to the Sêmelka border crossing on 2 May and deported to Rojava.

‘I treated both YPG fighters and peshmerga’

Dr. Cemal Cembelli added that he had not asked anyone for an ID before treating them and had not discriminated between peshmerga and YPG members. “Apart from my work in the hospital I occasionally visited some organisations. I also sometimes went to Kandil, and would be subjected to an investigation on my return,” he said.