European Parliament
Bât. Altiero Spinelli
60 rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60
B-1047 – Bruxelles/Brussels
Belgium
December 11, 2015
Honorable President Schulz:
In retrospect, since the early 1990s, Turkey has, occasionally, tried to cross the Turkish-Iraqi border, and inter the Kurdistan Region’s territory. First, they were against the newly established Kurdish administration in Kurdistan-Iraq, and now using the euphemism of liberating Mosul from Da’esh. However, the facts on the ground speak louder than what the Turkish authorities say. At the inception of the fight against the Da’esh terrorist organization in Iraq, Turkey’s ambition for controlling the KRG and its administration increased. Turkey’s war planes have violated every international laws by bombing our regions in Kurdistan-Iraq more frequently than ever before. They have killed countless innocent people including women and children, displacing others, and destroying Kurdish villages.
The recent Turkish air aggression left 11 deaths behind, killed a large number of livestock, and damaged agricultural goods of villagers. According to the international observers, about 2000 Turkish troops supported by heavy weapons have interred the KRG territory, this time, under the pretext of helping the Iraqi forces in liberating Mosul. Nonetheless, immediately after the Turkish incursion took place, the Iraqi central government including Prime Minister Haidar Abadi and President Fouad Masoum have repeatedly called for Turkish withdrawal from Kurdistan-Iraq.
We believe the Turkish incursion to the region is not for liberating Mosul, but rather, it is for deepening the sectarian conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites of Iraq, and further deteriorating the Turkish-Kurdish peace process, which had given hope of brotherhood to the peoples in the region besides the economic intrests they may gain from Mosul plain. Moreover, it seems that the Turkish mission is to abort the gains achieved by the Kurds in Syria. Turkey has chosen the right time for its incursion into Iraq, especially now, when Iraqi government is in its worst economic, military and political shape.
Turkish incursion to our homeland took place exactly at a time, when our daughters and sons have been so bravely, on behalf of the international community, fighting the Da’esh terrorist organization to maintain peace and coexistence in Kurdistan. The world community has been witnessing the valor of the Kurdish Peshmerga, PKK and YPG Guerrilla forces as the only formidable forces that have been able to maintain the dark forces of Da’esh. Now, after three years or so, of the bloody and devastating war with Da’esh, under the international pressure, Turkey reluctantly, has joined the coalition against Da’esh. Nevertheless, since its involvement, instead of fighting the Da’esh forces, Turkish air power has been bombing the Qandil Mauntanin instead of Da’esh. It seems as if Turkish purpose for joining the coalition is to use Da’esh as a ploy to bomb the Kurdish forces that truly fighting terrorism.
In conclusion, we, the signatories of this letter, are concerned civilians including academic, civil society activists, physicians, engineers, businessmen, lawyers…and lay people, who want peace and prosperity for the region and the world. But, we also believe what Turkey does in the region by helping Da’esh and violating the international norms will continue to contribute to the region’s instability. Therefore, we implore the EU Parliament to take necessary steps to correct the Turkish wrongs by making sure that the Turkish forces leave Kurdistan-Iraq expeditiously. We further, ask that the EU encourages the Turks to go back to the negotiating table to find a peaceful political solution for the Turkish-Kurdish conflict before other innocent lives are lost.
Sincerely yours,
Derwich M. FERHO
President of Kurdish Institute Brussels