KURDISTAN

Latest News

• Turkish air raids target Medya Defense Zones 

  HPG Press Centre reported that the Turkish army carried out air strikes against the Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) between January 31 and February 8.
• Kobanê academics say PKK should be removed from 'terror list' 

  Academics from Kobanê said that the PKK is the only force fighting terrorism, insisting that it should be removed from the 'terror list' immediately.
• Goran Şaho: Freedom of Öcalan means freedom of the Kurdish people 

  KODAR Executive Council member, Goran Şaho, said that the struggle for the freedom of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan should be enlarged and added that "the freedom of Leader Apo will ensure the freedom of the Kurdish people."
• Women in Shengal protest the 15 February conspiracy against Öcalan  

  The Yazidi Free Women's Movement (TAJÊ) protested the international conspiracy against Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan with a march in Shengal.
• Appeal from Maxmur to the UN 

  Filiz Budak, co-chair of the People's Council of the self-administered Maxmur refugee camp, appeals to the United Nations to live up to its responsibility and take a stand against the Turkish attacks.
• PJAK co-chair Zîlan Vejîn: "Standing up for Öcalan means standing up for freedom" 

  The co-chair of the East Kurdistan party PJAK, Zîlan Vejîn, spoke about the 23rd anniversary of Öcalan's abduction and said that "standing up for Rêber Apo means standing up for one's own will and freedom."
• Footage of the HPG guerrillas' action in Zap  

  Footage of the HPG guerrillas' infiltration of two positions in the region of Zap on 9 December was released by Guerîla TV.
• Arab Youth Initiative founded in Shengal 

  An Arab Youth Initiative has been founded in Shengal to fight against domination and social sexism and to strengthen the self-defence forces in the northern Iraqi region.
• 'PKK has never been a terrorist organization’ 

  Zoroastrian Representative Awat Hîsamedîn declared that they backed the international effort to remove the PKK from the "terrorist" list, emphasizing that the PKK was never a terrorist organization.
• KCK: No attack will be able to bring our people to their knees 

  KCK vowed that they would always stand with the people of Rojava, Şengal and Maxmur, saying, "Our people and their friends all over the world must take to the streets against the attacks of the Turkish state. "
• TAJÊ activist Dayê Şemê says Iraqi government is equally to blame for Turkish attacks on Shengal 

  The Iraqi government is blamed for Turkey's constant attacks against Shengal. TAJÊ activist Dayê Şemê pointed to an Iraqi flag that was shredded in the bombing and asked: "Why is Iraq putting up with this?"
• Women visit the Justice Vigil in Van: “We will continue to resist” 

  Van Women's Platform visited the Justice Vigil of the relatives of the prisoners. "We will resist until we achieve our goal," the families said.
• KONGRA-GEL: Turkey’s attacks are the flutters of fascism's collapse  

  The KONGRA-GEL Co-Presidency Council stated that, “Because the fascist Turkish state government is in the midst of political collapse, it will attack even more.”
• DTK, HDK, TJA, DBP and HDP protest Turkish attacks in Kurdistan 

  Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), Free Women's Movement (TJA), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) protested the latest Turkish airstrikes in Maxmûr, Şengal and Derik.
• Hakkari Governorate issues ban on demonstrations, marches and open-air meetings for 15 days 

  Hakkari Governorate announced that demonstrations, marches and open-air meetings would be banned for 15 days.
• Victims of Turkish attack in Maxmur laid to rest 

  Two members of the Self-Defence Forces, who were killed in the Turkish air attack on the Maxmur refugee camp in southern Kurdistan on Tuesday evening, have been laid to rest.
• YBŞ: 21 locations bombed, three civilians killed in Turkish attacks 

  According to the YBŞ, three civilians were killed in yesterday's airstrikes by the Turkish army in Shengal. YBŞ suffered no casualties in the hours-long bombardment of 21 different locations.
• Shengal Autonomous Administration: Our will is stronger than warplanes, tanks and artillery 

  "Our will is stronger than warplanes, tanks, and artillery," the Shengal Autonomous Administration said in response to the Turkish state's attacks.
• Footage of the destruction caused by Turkish assault on Shengal 

  The occupying Turkish state last night launched its most comprehensive assault on Shengal since 2017. Residents of the Yazidi town will hold a demonstration today in response to the attack.
• Turkish airstrike leaves two dead, dozens injured in Maxmur 

  The Self-Defence Forces Command of the Maxmur Refugee Camp announced that two of its members were martyred, and dozens of civilians were injured following the Turkish airstrike on the night of February 1.
• Turkish warplanes bomb Maxmur, Shengal and Rojava - NEW 

  Turkish warplanes bombed the Martyr Rûstem Cûdî Refugee Camp in Maxmur. At the same time, they hit the village of Teqil Beqil in Dêrik, Rojava, and Shengal.
• HPG reports massive airstrikes on guerrilla areas 

  The Turkish army has again carried out massive airstrikes on the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).
• Behdinan activist detained for 16 months to appear in court 

  Berivan Ayub Hassan has been in pre-trial detention in Hewlêr since October 2020 on charges of "undermining national security". In mid-February, the mother of five is to appear in court for the first time.
• 'Iraqi army is disrupting peace', say people in Shengal 

  The Iraqi army has massively increased its troop presence in Shengal. The people there are concerned and are demanding the withdrawal of the soldiers.
• Turkish army bombs village of Hiror 

  The Turkish army has bombed the village of Hiror in South Kurdistan for the second time. A large part of the bee colonies, which are a main source of livelihood for the villagers, were burnt.