Some 891 intellectuals, artists, journalists, workers, academics from South Kurdistan released a public letter about the Turkish state's ongoing campaign of military aggression and occupation of South Kurdistan. 

The text of the letter reads as follows:

"Under the pretence of targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Turkish military is attacking and invading the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. While this is not the first time that the Turkish state’s forces have struck the Kurdistan Region, this time the campaign of military aggression is larger in scale – this invasion demonstrates a more vicious intention, and its goals are terrifying and disastrous for the peoples of the region.

These ongoing attacks are causing death, injury, and the destruction of the livelihoods, homes, and property of thousands of civilians who populate the area. They are causing lasting damage to lives of the citizens of the region as well as its environment and economic infrastructure.

What concerns us is that, despite the magnitude and brutality of these ongoing attacks using heavy weaponry and occupying land for military camps, despite repeated demands from the parliament of Iraq and the parliament of the Kurdistan Region that the Turkish army withdraw from northern Iraq, and despite delivery to the Kurdistan Parliament of a petition signed by 500,000 people of the Kurdistan Region condemning these attacks, we nonetheless see and hear complete silence from the world concerning the Turkish military’s deadly aggression against the Kurdistan Region, and this silence paves the way for an intensification of these deadly attacks on the region.

We, the undersigned, seek to draw the attention of the media and public in the Kurdistan Region, throughout Iraq, and internationally to the following crucial points:

1. The Turkish state’s military aggression against Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is in complete violation of international human rights conventions and is an infringement on the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. This deadly campaign constitutes an attack against a sovereign country and is contrary to international law.

2. The Turkish state’s attacks represent an invasion, and we strongly condemn it. We believe that such actions only promote further instability in the region, as the presence of invading armed forces creates a major security concern for the Kurdistan Region, and will be a source of future tension.

3. The political institutions of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, international institutions, parties and political personalities, civil society, thinkers and academics, and anyone with an interest in promoting basic human rights and social justice must stand against this unjust invasion that has long-lasting, destructive effects on the people, land, and economy of the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Region has experienced many crises in the last decades, and ongoing aggression by the Turkish state actively interferes with and prevents recovery and reconstruction efforts in the region.

4. Instead of violence and bloodshed, the Turkish state must open all doors for discussion to solve the Kurdish question in Turkey peacefully and, based on democratic principles, it should try to solve the Kurdish question. This is the right way to attain peace and brotherhood among the nations living together in the region."

The first 20 ignatoriesof the letter are as follows:

1. Hawjîn Mela Emîn, author and university lecturer, Silêmanî

2. Umîd Qeredaxî, author and academic, Silêmanî

3. Ebdulla Mela Nûrî, former MP, Germiyan

4. Necîbe Qeredaxî, member of Jineolojî Academy, Brussels

5. Dr. Fayîq Gulpî, politician, Silêmanî

6. Merîwan Wirya Qani, university lecturer, Amsterdam

7. Yesra Receb, MP-Iraq, Germiyan

8. Hesen Cûdî, author and journalist, Silêmanî

9. Şêrko Heme Emîn, former MP, Silêmanî

10. Muhsin Edîb, author and university lecturer, Silêmanî

11. Amîne Kake Bawe, PM, Sweden

12. Berîvan Mihemed, political activist, Silêmanî

13. Peyman Êzeddîn, former MP, Silêmanî

14. Şiwan Mihemed, journalist, Silêmanî

15. Dr Hekîm Ebdulkerîm, political prisoner, Derbendîxan

16. Asos Ehmed Herdî, author and journalist, Silêmanî

17. Perwîn Ezîz Seyîd, civil activist, Silêmanî

18. Adil Usman Mihemed, civil activist, Silêmanî

19. Tara Husên, political activist, Silêmanî

20. Seyîd Ekrem, political activist, Duhok