Iraqi Communist Party Calls for Immediate Halt

of the Turkish Aggression

14 February 2021

The Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party has issued the following statement:

We have followed with deep concern the Turkish army’s continuing incursion into Iraqi territories and the violation of our country’s sovereignty. This aggression has exposed the lives of citizens and farmers in the Kurdistan region, especially in the border areas, to great dangers and resulted in human and material losses.

Turkey, through these denounced actions, is violating all international norms and values ​​and neighbourly relations between the two countries, at a time when its rulers claim that they are striving for security and stability in Iraq in general and the region in particular, and to develop relations with our country.

While Turkey bears primary responsibility for the repeated violations, the international community and the United Nations must act to condemn this aggression and demand its immediate halt. The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government must also fulfil their duty in this regard, and act in various ways and means consistent with international law to protect the lives of our citizens, their property and land, and stop these flagrant violations.

The silence of both governments, the federal and the regional, is neither justified nor acceptable in any case. It is their duty to totally reject attempts by Turkey, or any other country, to solve its internal problems at the expense of Iraq, its security and stability, and by terrorizing its citizens and violating its sovereignty.

In addition, the Turkish government should build bridges of understanding and dialogue with its opponents, including the political forces that seek to guarantee the rights of the people of Kurdistan in Turkey. It should provide freedom and true democracy and respond to the will of the people, instead of resorting to military operations, a scorched-earth policy and enforced disappearance of activists in prisons and detention centres.

It is certain that the just causes of peoples will remain and will not be extinguished by artillery and aircraft fire, killing, executions and blatant violations of human rights.

Today, as Turkey is showing more of its aggressive intent and hinting at the possibility of sending its forces into Sinjar, efforts must be exerted to foil its schemes and seek to restore normal conditions in Sinjar. People in the area should enjoy justice and receive compensation. Reconstruction should be launched in Sinjar, while sparing it from political conflicts and external interference, and resolving problems in the interest of its citizens, and the Yazidis in particular. This is necessary to alleviate their pain and suffering, in addition to exerting more efforts to uncover the fate of the kidnapped.

While renewing our condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Turkish aggression, we call upon the Turkish government to stop its military operations, withdraw its forces from our territories and respect Iraq’s sovereignty.