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Ji Bo Yekîtiya Netewiya Kurdistan/Ewropa |
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www.jiboyekitiyaneteweyi.com
Dear Sir Henk Cor van der Kwast
To the Executive Committee of the United Nations (UN) Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)!
Johan de Wittlaan 32, 2517 Den Haag
E-Mail:
Dear Sir Kwast,
Since April 2021, we have been witnessing unending military interventions of the Turkish state within the
borders of Iraq in the area under the jurisdiction of the Kurdistan Regional Government. These interventions,
which can be defined as an occupation in terms of international law, create very serious violations of human
rights.
Among these serious violations is the use of prohibited weapons. Nevertheless sufficient information cannot be
obtained from this region because it is a battlefield and is prohibited from inspection by civilian and
independent delegations. Banning independent inspections from the conflict area are raising serious concerns.
Under these conditions, the information that reaches the public only comes from the guerrilla forces and their
relatives who are exposed to banned weapons and chemical attacks.
According to current information, it has been determined that chemical weapons were used at least 323 times
in the last period of six months between 23th April (when the conflict escalated) up to 23th October 2021.
During this period, 38 guerrillas lost their lives as a result of chemical attacks.
Another six guerrillas lost their lives in the attack by using chemical weapons, that took place in the area
known as Girê Sor, on September 3, 2021, but three guerrillas survived despite being harmed. The three
guerrillas who survived the attack gave concrete information about the smell, taste, and effects of the gas. They
also conveyed their observations on the situation of the guerrillas who lost their lives. These concrete data
convince us that this issue should at least be investigated in depth.
Again, according to information received, people (civilians) in the Behdinan region, which was turned into a
conflict area, were also taken to different hospitals because they were affected by the chemical weapons. The
people of the region are reluctant to give information because they are under pressure.
Dear Representatives;
It is also possible to see in the findings by international judicial institutions that the Turkish State used brutal
violence and massacres against civilians in its war against the Kurdish people. European institutions have also
confirmed the frequent use of prohibited weapons. Especially over the last five years, we have seen that the
Turkish State has used all kinds of banned weapons in its attacks, in which they brought the war of destruction
and ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people.
The Kurdish people, who have become the target of the Turkish State, know very well that the Turkish regime
has the capacity to use chemical weapons and uses these, and that they do not respect any laws and treaties.