The Martyr Rustem Cudi Refugee Camp in Maxmur, established by people forcibly displaced from North Kurdistan in the 1990s and under United Nations protection since 1998, has come under renewed siege in recent weeks. Following the security agreement signed between Turkey and Iraq on 7 April 2025, Iraqi security forces imposed a blockade on the camp. Access to vital humanitarian needs such as electricity, water, and healthcare services has been severely restricted.

File submitted to the UN

Before the protest, a delegation composed of Maxmur refugees and representatives from the Geneva Democratic Kurdish Community Center submitted a file to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), detailing the current situation in the camp. The delegation called on the UN not to remain neutral but to fulfill its responsibility.

Message from the rally: Silence is complicity

The rally, held in Nations Square in front of the UN office, began with a moment of silence in memory of Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Altun, founding members and senior leaders of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). After the tribute, politician Nurettin Turgut shared updates about the situation in the camp.

Baris Yaman, representing the Maxmur Youth, read the camp's demands to the international public in French.

The statement underlined that although the camp has been under UN protection for 27 years, it continues to face systematic attacks by Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Maxmur is being targeted for destruction

The camp, which faced grave threats during the 2014 ISIS attacks, has suffered heavy civilian casualties in recent years due to airstrikes conducted by Turkish UCAVs. Most recently, on 10 April 2025, Iraqi security forces completely surrounded the camp, even preventing workers from reentering.

On 12 May, a delegation of camp representatives was detained after meeting with the Iraqi Minister of Justice in Baghdad. Despite the time that has passed, no official statement has been made to either the camp administration or the public.

Demands

The following demands were made on behalf of the people of Maxmur:

1. The detained camp representatives must be released immediately.
2. Residents of the camp must be granted political refugee status.
3. The military siege must be lifted and all operations halted.
4. Identity documents must be issued to camp residents.
5. The right of workers outside the camp to return must not be obstructed.
6. Direct and legal negotiations must be initiated between the Iraqi government and the camp administration.

International silence condemned

The silence of the UN and the international community was strongly condemned. The statement declared: “The UN cannot remain silent in the face of human rights violations occurring in a camp under its supervision.”

Kurdish diaspora organizations across Europe also sent messages of solidarity, stressing that the people of Maxmur are not alone.

Protests will continue

The demonstration concluded with strong slogans such as “The people of Maxmur are not alone,” “UN, fulfill your responsibility,” and “International community, take action.” Participants affirmed their determination to continue resisting the ongoing repression.