Edhem Barzani condemns Turkey's genocidal attacks

Growing reactions against Turkey’s occupation attacks and operations in Northern Iraq.

More reactions are coming from Southern Kurdistan (Bashur) against the Turkish state’s occupation attacks on the region that are claiming more civilian lives every day.

Representatives of political parties are also raising their voices against the genocidal attacks, making clear their difference from those who remain silent. One of these persons is Edhem Barzani, a member of the Central Committee of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and former official of its Sulaymaniyah branch.

Edhem Barzani released a message on the killing of a civilian in a recent Turkish bombardment on the village of Kani Mezin in Kani Masi region.

Criticising the Kurdistan Regional Government for its silence on Turkey’s attacks, the message published by Edhem Barzani on personal social media account includes the following:

“I have learned with great sadness the martyrdom of teacher Xalid Ebdulrehman Şemseddin as result of Turkish aerial bombardment in the vicinity of the Kani Mezin village in Kani Masi. Dozens of sinless civilians have been martyred by the attacks of Turkish fighter jets from Zakho to Sulaymaniyah.

I condemn the attacks and offer my condolences to the family of the slain teacher and the people of the region. I hope that the attacks that kill our youth and people on their own land and country will be confronted. I call either for the people to be allowed to defend themselves or them to be protected by some forces.”

Speaking to the Voice of America radio during the Turkish occupation attacks against Afrin, Edhem Barzani had said back then that after occupying Afrin, the Turkish state would move on to Southern Kurdistan to occupy larger territories.