The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Executive Council said that the Turkish state has committed heavy war crimes using chemical weapons and added: "The situation is extraordinary" and called for resistance.
The KNK Executive Council denounced the silence of international forces and institutions, especially drawing attention to the unprecedented war crimes committed with chemical weapons since April.
The KNK said: “The Turkish army has been using chemical weapons against freedom guerrillas for years. They have been used non-stop since February 2021."
The statement continued: “Especially since mid-April, chemical weapons have been used more and more in the invasion attacks. According to HPG BIM data, chemical weapons were used 367 times in 2021 and 2470 times in the last 6 months. More than 100 guerrillas were killed in chemical weapons attacks.
Many times, images and evidence of the use of chemical weapons are shared with the public and the press. New images have now been shared and it was learned that 17 guerrillas were killed as a result of attacks carried out in October. The Kurdish people, the Kurdish organisations and the friends of the Kurdish people have been trying to make their voices heard in every field for a long time. However, unfortunately, no institution other than some human rights institutions has heard this voice. In particular, the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the OPCW remain silent in the face of attacks. The Turkish state, on the other hand, takes courage from this silence and increases its attacks.”
The statement added: “Turkish state officials are committing war crimes on the territory of Kurdistan. President Erdogan and officials in his government, Turkish army commanders and MIT are war criminals against humanity.
What is happening in Kurdistan is not ordinary. The Turkish state is carrying out brutal attacks and crimes against humanity in front of the world today. The Kurdish people and their friends should rise up against these attacks and raise their voices everywhere. The situation is extraordinary and the Kurdish people do not accept their silence.”
The KNK said that the “attacks are our primary agenda item and we will stand up against these attacks while following the events.
We call on all the people of Kurdistan to support the freedom fighters by saying that 'today is the day of resistance'. Everyone should take to the streets and oppose the attacks with the spirit of Kobanê. The friends of the Kurdish people and the world should stand by the Kurdish people.”
