AA calls to investigate Khansor attack, hold those responsible accountable

The Democratic Autonomous Administration in Shengal issued a statement about the Iraqi army's attack on a peaceful march launched by Yazidis on July 5 in Khansor city.

The statement stressed that the protests were against the Turkish occupation's attacks on Southern Kurdistan and at the same time to support the people of Iraq.

The statement stated that according to Iraqi law, it is not the responsibility of the army to interfere in any social activity, and if necessary, police forces should be present in the area.

"But it became clear to us that the army would launch an attack on the demonstrators through the preparations they made before the march and transferring their military force to Khansor area."

The statement said, "The Iraqi army deployed a special force at the scene and besieged the area. It also created a ground of anxiety and confusion, and instead of solving the issue, it launched an attack on the demonstrators with various weapons, which resulted in the injury of a member of the media."

The Administration said that the scenes depicted during the attack showed that Iraqi soldiers were targeting demonstrators and deliberately shooting at the crowd present in the march square.

The Autonomous Administration also confirmed in its statement that had it not been for the positive and responsible attitude shown by the people and the Autonomous Administration, the matter would have worsened and many victims would have been left.

The Autonomous Administration held Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi responsible for the attack, and demanded him to form a committee to investigate the incident and hold the forces that shot the people accountable.

The Democratic Autonomous Administration in Shengal noted that if this incident and attack is not taken into account, such threats and dangers to the Yazidi community may increase, and called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to take the necessary measures against such attacks."

D.H