The Kurdistan Alliance Work, an alliance of different parties, platforms and associations, issued a joint written statement regarding the massacre carried out by the Turkish state in the village of Perex in Zakho on Wednesday. The statement gave condolences to the families of the murdered and the Kurdish people and added: “Our pain is great and we, as the Kurdish parties, condemn this massacre and this crime against humanity in the strongest possible terms.”

New massacre against the Kurdish people

The statement said: “This latest massacre is the continuation of those carried out against the Kurdish people and civilians, such as Roboski, Kuşkonar, Kuşağılı, Vartinis, Afrin and Serêkaniyê. The old Turkish hostile policies against the Kurdish people have led to hundreds of similar massacres so far carried out in front of the eyes of the world and mostly with the support of sovereign states.

The right to life, identity and existence of the Kurdish people was targeted by this attack. However, as seen in the last attack, the insistence on occupation and war destabilizes the region and causes civilian massacres.”

The statement continued: “The fact that the Zakho massacre took place right after the Iran summit on Syria, where a new invasion of Rojava was discussed, is something remarkable. Turkey has been carrying out its attacks against civilians and crimes against humanity in Kurdish villages and civilian areas like Maxmur, Shengal, Afrin, and Serêkaniyê, with the courage it has received from the silence and approval of world public opinion.”

The statement added: “We call on all relevant parties to stop supporting this aggression and take a stand against attacks that turn into a systematic policy of massacre. The United Nations Court of Justice should take action against these crimes. In the 21st century, the free world cannot and should no longer stand by and remain silent against such massacres and crimes against humanity.

Parties and organizations engaged in politics on behalf of Kurdistan are also faced with a historical decision-making process. Attitudes that legitimize and justify these attacks by Turkey and see them as normal should be abandoned. The patriotic Kurdish people have no patience for the attacks against them, and they will never forgive the tolerance shown against these attacks.”

The statement said: “The Kurdish and Kurdistan problem cannot be solved by such massacres, and the Kurdish people cannot be discouraged from their demands for freedom and democracy. What Turkey needs to do is to immediately withdraw its military forces from South Kurdistan and Rojava and seek a solution through negotiations and dialogue with the representatives of the Kurdish people.”