KURDISTAN

Latest News

• More areas declare self-governance in North Kurdistan 

  While the AKP government continues to impose an all–out war concept in North Kurdistan, Peoples’ Assemblies in various settlements declare that they no longer see legitimacy in state institutions run by administrators appointed by AKP.
• 15 August Initiative marked in guerrilla areas 

  15 August Initiative, the operation in which the PKK launched its first attack against Turkish forces, has been marked in Medya Defence Zones in a ceremony attended by a large group of guerrillas.
• Kurds remember 15 August 

  The 15 of August 1984 is an important date for the Turkish-Kurdish conflict as it marks the first PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) attack, led by Mahsum Korkmaz (known as “Agit”).
• Guerrilla actions in various locations 

  HPG guerrillas carried out actions across Kurdistan, where 26 soldiers and police officers died, and 8 security forces got injured. Guerrillas also blocked roads and sabotaged soldiers in various locations.
• Karayılan: AKP made a mistake and will pay a heavy price 

  PKK Executive Committee member Murat Karayılan pointed out that AKP made the biggest mistake in its history by launching the attacks of July 24
• Jihadist captured alive tells how he joined ISIS from Turkey 

  ISIS fighter Mahmut Gazitatar who joined the jihadist organization from Adıyaman province of North Kurdistan, told that ISIS recruited members at the camps hosting Syrian refugees located between Adıyaman and Urfa.
• Special operations teams murder a civilian in Amed 

  Special operations teams murdered 40 years old Fahrettin Budak as he was sitting in front of his house in Amed last night.
• Edremit Municipal Council member detained 

  Turkish police detained Edremit Municipal Council member Azim Yacan.
• Youth wounded in Suruç massacre loses his life 

  Mert Cömert, who was critically injured in Suruç massacre and has been under intensive care in Urfa State Hospital for weeks, lost hist life.
• Self-governance declared in Bulanık 

  People’s Assembly and representatives of political parties and institutions declared self-governance in Bulanık district of Muş.
• KCK calls upon peoples to rise up against massacres by AKP 

  KCK said security forces that attacked the people everywhere continued killing civilians by breaking the principles of war and taking the anti-Kurd remarks of the Turkish President and Prime Minister as an order to themselves.
• HPG: Bombardments by Turkish troops continue 

  People’s Defense Forces (HPG) Press Office has reported that bombardments of the Turkish troops launched mainly by howitzer and mortar fires against the guerrilla held Medya Defence Zones continue.
• Dozens of Turkish soldiers killed in actions by guerrillas 

  HPG (People's Defense Forces) Press Office reported that a number of Turkish soldiers and police were killed in a series of actions by guerrillas in North Kurdistan.
• Witnesses of Diyadin execution speak 

  Witnesses gave striking information on the executions of Orhan Aslan (16) and Emrah Aydemir (15) by special operations teams in Diyadin district of Ağrı.
• Racist attack on Kurdish workers in Erzurum 

  A group of Kurdish construction workers were attacked by a racist group in Erzurum. Pointing guns at the workers, the group injured two among them, while police detained two other workers.
• YJA STAR guerrilla martyred in Varto laid to rest in Van 

  YJA STAR (Free Women's Troops) guerrilla Kevser Eltürk, who recently lost her life in a clash with Turkish soldiers in Varto, has been laid to rest by women.
• KJA calls upon international organizations to investigate in Kurdistan 

  Free Women’s Congress (KJA) called upon all international human rights organizations, observers’ delegations and press to investigate the massacres and human rights violations in Silopi and the rest of Kurdistan.
• HDP MP: Children working at the bakery were clearly executed 

  HDP Ağrı parliamentarian Dirayet Taşdemir described the incident in Diyadin as a clear execution and said that there was no sign of a shootout at the crime scene. She noted that the arrest of five witnesses aimed to cover up the execution.
• Governor portrays children massacred in Diyadin as PKK guerrillas 

  Ağrı Governor's Office tries to legitimize police executions in Diyadin district of Ağrı by portraying slain civilians as PKK guerillas.
• Witness: Police put guerrilla clothes on victims after the murders 

  Fevzi Kahraman, a witness of the execution by police in Diyadin, told that special operations teams killed three civilians and put guerrilla clothes on them after the murders.
• Special operations teams execute three civilians in Diyadin 

  Police massacred Orhan Aslan (16) and Emrah Aydemir (15) in their workplaces in Diyadin. Another body was found in Murat Neighborhood, and has not yet been identified.
• Actions by HPG and YJA Star guerrillas continue 

  HPG (People's Defense Forces) and YJA Star (Free Women's Troops) guerrillas continue their actions in response to the ongoing operations and attacks of the Turkish military.
• HPG: Turkish troops continue to attack Medya Defence Zones 

  People’s Defense Forces (HPG) Press Office reported in its daily statement that Turkish troops carry out bombardments against Medya Defence Zones heavily relying on howitzer and mortar fires.
• KCK: Kurdish people have no option but self-governance 

  KCK Executive Council Co-Presidency voiced support to People’s Councils’ declaration of self-governance in Şırnak and said that Kurdish people have no option but self-governance in the face of AKP government’s insistence on the nation state.
• HDP report on Zergelê confirms the targeted killing of civilians 

  HDP has released its report on the massacre in Zergelê village located in Qandil region, where the airstrikes of Turkish air forces claimed the lives of 8 civilians and left dozens of others wounded in the early morning hours of August 1, 2015.