The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) released a statement on the Turkish use of chemical weapons against the guerrilla forces. The statement said: “There are serious reports, statements and images that the Turkish Government has used chemicals, which are considered as war crimes by international law, in its military operations on the territory of the Kurdistan Regional Government since 2021.”

The statement said that the Kurdistan Regional Government did not allow the delegations that seek to conduct investigations in the region. “The hostile policies against the expert committees should be ended as soon as possible and investigations should be launched immediately against chemical attacks that were carried out in their own territory."

Call to OPCW

The statement continued: “The AKP-MHP government must put an end to its war crimes, crimes against humanity and hostility to the Kurds. The member states of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) should request an investigation, and an investigation should be launched immediately by the OPCW. UN member states should request an investigation, using the UN Secretary-General's special mechanism. We are calling on the Turkish government and all international mechanisms. We will use all legal means to build a dignified life in the lands of Kurdistan, and we will continue to report on the crimes you committed and the investigations you failed to launch!”