S. Kurdistan delegation: objectives of attacks go beyond borders of Rojava

A delegation from Southern Kurdistan, consisting of Ali Hama Salih Taha, head of the parliamentary Kurdistan National Movement, MP Badal Abdulbaqi Barwari, and movement members Mohammed Abdulbaqi Younis, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Abdul Samad Salam Abdullah, Ari Badal Abdulbaqi, and Ziman Khalil Ibrahim, entered Rojava on 25 January.

The delegation visited Kurdish political parties in the city of Qamishlo and held meetings with them. It also visited the Kurdish Red Crescent and provided medical assistance. In addition, the delegation visited the Afrin–Shahba Council for the Displaced and met with displaced people, and paid a visit to the shrine of the martyr Dalil Sarokhan in Qamishlo.

Today, the delegation also visited the Democratic Union Party (PYD), where it was received by the party’s co-chair, Gharib Hesso. He said: “We discussed the war and conflicts in Syria, the position of the Kurdish people, and the unity of the country.”

Following the visit, the delegation held a press statement in front of the party’s headquarters, delivered by Ali Hama Salih Taha.

Ali Hama Salih Taha said: “We have been in our homeland, Rojava, for several days now, among our people, carrying out our work. We have held a number of meetings with friends. We want to highlight some important points. This war is a national issue. It is nothing but an attempt to occupy Kurdish lands. What pains us is that we are not only fighting a regular army, but also a group of outlaw forces that exploit religion to commit massacres, loot people’s property, and displace them. Since the start of the war, which erupted in Aleppo, more than two thousand people have gone missing this is a heinous crime. Many families had their children and women killed during displacement, with their bodies thrown into water and gardens. This shows that no one can accept this situation. So far, no Kurdish city has fallen into the hands of these forces. What happened is that they withdrew from areas with a Kurdish majority in order to prevent a Kurdish–Arab war.”

“We Must Convey the Stories of the People of Rojava to the World”

He continued: “Most important is to maintain the stance rejecting these attacks, so that we can all build a joint international defense of the land of Kurdistan. Every home in Rojava speaks with the voice of the Kurdish people’s position. We must continue. It is extremely important for Kurds in the United States to organize large demonstrations in front of Congress. The world must hear the stories of the killing of Kurds, the massacres, and the displacement. The world must hear the stories of the disappearance of Kurds.”

“When the Homeland Is in Danger, We Must All Unite”

Ali Hama Salih Taha added: “We may be in opposition in Southern Kurdistan, but when the homeland is in danger, we must all unite. Let us unite against the occupation and those seeking to occupy the land of Kurdistan. We have seen that the goal of this force is not Rojava alone. Believe me, if they succeed, they will not stop at Rojava. Their target is Southern Kurdistan and Iraq their ambitions go beyond that. Therefore, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region must fully understand this. The release of ISIS mercenaries and attempts to bring them back to life, along with attacks on the Kurdish people while falsely claiming that the Kurds are the ones who imprisoned them are extremely dangerous matters, and the international community must confront them. Finally, we must activate all diplomatic channels, especially in Europe and the United States.”

He continued: “Another issue is the extreme poverty here. Many children are suffering from hunger and lack of milk. There is an urgent need for medicine and food. It is important that aid continues, whether from Southern Kurdistan or from abroad.” He concluded by saying: “Victory to the Kurds and Kurdistan. Many people with a deep-rooted history stretching back thousands of years believe that they cannot be defeated by an invincible force.”

It has not yet been clarified when the delegation will return to Southern Kurdistan.

ANHA