The HDP European Representation has called on international institutions to end the massacres by the Turkish state against HDP members and civilians in both South Kurdistan and Northern and Eastern Syria.

The HDP Europe representative also translated the letter sent by the Kurdish Political Refugee Initiative in Bashurê Kurdistan to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres regarding the safety of HDP politicians, into different languages, and sent it to European Parliament deputies, the parliamentary groups in the Council of Europe, and over 147 parliamentarians and party's representatives from different states.

The HDP European Representation requested an appointment with the UN headquarters in Geneva to discuss the safety of HDP politicians in South Kurdistan.

The letter by the Kurdish Political Refugee Initiative said: "We are Kurdish citizens of Turkey who have taken part in legal political activities with the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and have been subjected to unfounded allegations, detentions, and imprisonments. Now we are political asylum seekers in Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, trying to survive with our families in difficult economic circumstances, and at the same time facing serious death threats. We have come to this region at different times over the last fifteen years and have lived and worked quietly and conscientiously, in line with our respect for humanitarian values."

The letter continued: "However, we have not been accepted by the regional authorities, nor by international institutions. We have received no material help, and, most importantly, no one is taking action to ensure our safety. In Turkey we were imprisoned and tortured for any attempt to pursue rights and freedoms. In the Kurdistan region, where we have taken refuge, we are murdered in the centre of the city - at the door of our homes or in our workplaces. And those who murder us escape without being caught, despite CCTV and police and security forces.

We believe – and this is supported by comments from the Turkish government itself – that these executions are coordinated by the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MİT); and the ease with which they are carried out suggests cooperation at the local level. The region lacks an effective independent judicial system and politics is dominated by close economic ties with Turkey."

The letter added: "Although we have been living in this region for years, we are still asylum seekers. We are not recognised as refugees – including by the UN – and so cannot get the help this recognition would entitle us to. It does not seem to us as though the humanitarian organisations abide by humanitarian values. After numerous meetings, the only results we have seen are statistical data for reports.

The lack of action following the murders of our friends allows such murders to be repeated with impunity. We know that international organisations have the power

to put pressure on the governments in this region to help stop these murders, and we ask what is the purpose of these international organisations if they are content to remain silent? Why is the massacre of our people only being watched? Why is this aggression of the Turkish state against civilians, in flagrant violation of all international law, not being prevented? Why, despite our SOS calls, are no security or protection measures being developed?"

The letter also added details of some of the people attacked and murdered in Sulaymaniyah, adding that "there are photographs and videos of the attacks, and also audio recordings of the victims being threatened and records of the phone numbers they were called from. - Ferhat Bağışkondu, an employee of Can Diyarbakır bus company, was seriously injured in an armed assault when he opened his office on the morning of 16 September 2021. Camera recordings are available."

Some of the people killed were: "Mehmet Zeki Çelebi, a businessman, was murdered in front of his restaurant on 17 May 2022 in front of his family. Camera recordings are available; Nagihan Akarsel - an academic and journalist who was working for women's rights, conducting women’s studies, and setting up a women's library - was murdered on 4 October 2022 as she was leaving her home; Hüseyin Türeli, a businessman, was murdered on 18 April 2023 at his workplace in a shopping mall in Dohuk city. One year earlier, he had suffered an armed attack and survived with injuries; Hüseyin Arasan, who took refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq after 17 years in prison for legal political activities in Turkey, was murdered on 9 June 2023 in front of the door of the workers' association of which he was a member."

The letter said: "Since we took refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, there have been threats against our families in Turkey, along with police raids and harassment. In addition, we are constantly receiving threatening phone calls. We are being called by MIT from various phone numbers with both Turkish and regional area codes. Before they were murdered, our friends first received repeated threatening phone calls. Today, the calls and threats continue, and we receive messages saying "It's your turn". As civilians, our lives are visible and unprotected. Each of us is under threat of being killed at any moment. We are waiting defencelessly for our turn to die. We are asking for help from international organisations that can stop these killings - and especially from the UN."

The refugees asked for "a delegation to be formed and sent to the region, including representatives from the UN and other international human rights institutions, to investigate the killings and publish the results.

We demand that Turkey is held to account for their actions, and that international organisations use their power in the Kurdistan Region and in the international

arena to warn and pressure the regional governments to stop these murders and take security measures.

As asylum seekers, we call on the international organisations to fulfil their responsibilities to ensure our right to life - to help us meet our social and economic needs and our overriding need for safety and protection. Silence will allow the murderers to commit further crimes.

We hope and trust that you will put this highly critical subject on your agenda and stop the extra judicial killings."