Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) has released a statement about the massacre committed by the Turkish state in Zergelê village in Kandil region of the guerilla-held Medya Defense Zones early this morning. The attack resulted in nine civilian casualties and dozens injured, including 15 in critical condition.

KNK recalled that Turkish military jets have continued to bomb in Qandil (Iraqi Kurdistan) and surrounding villages in the past 24 hours, and that the Turkish jets were targeting Zergelê house by house, resulting in high levels of casualties and injured, according to statements of witnesses.

KNK also pointed out that at the same time, bombardment of Turkish jets in Iraqi Kurdistan areas of Gare, Zap, Xakurke, Metina and Haftanin are still continuing, deliberately targeting civilians and attempting to cause high levels of civilian casualties.

Noting that Turkey’s allies UN, EU, USA have expressed support for Turkey’s right to defend itself against ‘terrorism’, KNK said; “Turkey's deliberate and persistent policy of targeting civilians is not self-defence. Rather, it is an act of state-terrorism, which the Kurds are being subjected to.”

The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu have stated their clear intention to continue with the bombings, which means that the deliberate targeting of civilians will continue, the statement said.

KNK called all the international democratic forces, public opinion and humanity to stand against the Turkish government’s indiscriminate bombing and to end its campaign of state-terror.

Kurdistan National Congress also called upon the UN, EU and US to act immediately against this human rights violation and not to remain silent in the face of the overwhelming levels of Turkish violation of Kurdish human rights. KNK added; “The ongoing international silence, combined with the continued Turkish military attacks against the Kurds is further serving to empower ISIS terrorism and increase their morale."