ANKARA - Condemning the attacks in Zakho and demanding that those responsible be held accountable before the judiciary, the İHD demanded the establishment of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission and the cancellation of the authorisation for use of military force for Iraq and Syria.

 

The Human Rights Association (İHD) made a written statement regarding the death of 9 people and the injury of 23 people as a result of the artillery attack carried out yesterday at the picnic area in the Perex village of Zakho district in the Federated Kurdistan Region. Emphasizing that 8 of those who lost their lives were children, the statement expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack and to the people of the region. Condemning the attack, the İHD demanded that those responsible should be held accountable before the judiciary as soon as possible.

 

'TURKEY'S EXPLANATION DOES NOT REFLECT THE REALITY'

 

Pointing out that the according to the Iraqi officials the massacre was caused by the artillery shells of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), the following statement was made:  “The statement made by the Iraqi Government after the investigation at the scene reveals that the attack was carried out by the TAF. The statement made by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this incident was far from reflecting the truth. Turkey wants to gloss over the issue by stating that it does not carry out attacks against civilians in the military operations it constantly carries out. Moreover, it is quite significant that the TAF, which is engaged in military activities in the region in question, and the Ministry of National Defense, to which it is affiliated, did not make any statements.

 

THERE ARE CLAIMS THAT SOLDIERS'BODIES WERE LEFT WHERE THEY WERE KILLED

 

There are serious allegations about the military operations carried out since April 2022 on the Turkish border line on the territory of the Federated Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. At the beginning of these claims is that the people of many settlements were frightened and displaced through bombings and thus thousands of people were forcibly displaced. In addition, there are serious allegations and images that prohibited weapons and bombs were used. In addition, there are reports that the bodies of some of the TAF soldiers who lost their lives were left in the field and the fate of their bodies is unknown. All these allegations are quite serious. The Parliamentary Investigation Commission should also investigate these allegations.

 

PROSECUTORS SHOULD TAKE ACTION

 

* In addition to the Commission, the authorized Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in the border region and the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office are required to conduct effective investigations regarding the attacks carried out against civilians during military operations, to identify the gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and to initiate the necessary prosecutions.

 

CALL TO UN

 

* The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and international human rights organisations are required to conduct investigations at the scene of the alleged gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law.

 

THE PEACE PROCESS MUST BE RESTARTED

 

* We would like to point out that a peace process should be built again by producing, non-military alternatives are required for Turkey to withdraw its military forces from Iraq and Syria within the borders of Turkey by canceling the Iraqi and Syrian authorisation for use of military force adopted in October 2021, and to resolve the Kurdish problem through democratic and peaceful means both with these countries and with the Kurdish political movement. (hiç emin değilim)

 

THE ROBOSKI CASE

 

Pointing out that the Zakho Perex massacre was not covered anywhere in Turkey except for a few opposition media outlets, the statement said: "There is no freedom of the press in Turkey. The fact that the so-called pro-government media is on the side of the government shows that the minimum press morality and ethical principles do not work. The Turkish media, just like in the Roboski Massacre, chose to ignore the events and remain silent. As human rights defenders, we are determined to continue our struggle for justice and peace so that gross human rights and violations of humanitarian law do not go unpunished, and that those who perpetrated massacres such as the Zakho Perex massacre should be held accountable before justice.”