The Kurdistan Democratic party (KDP) closed the Semalka border crossing where the families of martyrs have been staging a protest to receive the mortal remains of the guerrillas killed by the KDP.
At the border crossing between the autonomous region of north-eastern Syria and southern Kurdistan, a protest action has been taking place for two and a half months, demanding the return of the bodies of fallen guerrilla fighters. At the end of August, a guerrilla group in Xelîfan in the Medya Defense Zones was ambushed by a special KDP force. Five guerrillas were killed, one survived and there is still no news of one fighter. The protest action at Sêmalka has already been supported by thousands of people so far. Mothers of the martyrs have tried several times in vain to cross the bridge over the Tigris to demand the handover of the bodies in southern Kurdistan.
On the 73rd day of the protest, the KDP closed the border crossing in the morning.
Cizre Region Martyrs' Families Council and Cizre Region Social Services Committee members who went to the scene to support the protesters strongly criticised the KDP. The visiting group, welcomed by the activists with slogans, made a press statement.
Feyruşah Ramazan, co-chair of the Immigration Affairs Directorate affiliated to the Cizre Region Social Services Committee, commemorated the martyrs of freedom. “The whole world knows that the delivery of mortal remains to families during armed conflicts is guaranteed by the international laws. As the people of Rojava, for 73 days we have been asking for the bodies of our martyrs from those whom we call brothers. We ask you to fulfil the requirements of brotherhood and deliver the bodies of the martyrs to their families. The KDP claims to be the brother of the people of Kurdistan. Where is the brotherhood?” he asked.
Ramazan condemned the KDP for closing the border crossing, saying “While our people have been demanding the bodies of their martyrs for days, the KDP closed the border crossing. Is this brotherhood? I call on the people of Kurdistan, particularly the people of Bashur (South), to stand united for our martyrs. We want the Bashur parties and people to see these dirty policies of the KDP and to stand against them."
After the press statement was concluded with slogans, members of the Martyrs' Families Council and Social Services Committee came together with the activists in the protest tent.
