With recent aggression by the current Syrian government and affiliated militias against the Syrian Democratic Forces, there have been a number of grave human rights violations committed against Kurdish communities and other ethnic minorities throughout northeast Syria.
Those violations include massacres of entire families, forced displacement of families, desecration of deceased bodies, and much more.
While September was notably free of Turkish bombardments or attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan—the first such month since 2015—both Turkey and the PKK appear to be escalating their military mobilization in the region.
But everyone knew what they fled from. One can rarely find someone in the Bradost, Herki and Surchi tribe who have not lost a friend, a cousin, a parent, kin or neighbour…
CPT began doing the trainings in 2014. It was inspired by the Alternatives to Violence Project - an initiative begun by Quakers in the 1970’s who went into prisons to engage with violent offenders.
The context in Iraqi Kurdistan is very different to an American prison, but violence has been a frequent part of life for many people here. Of course there’s the wars - six separate conflicts since the 1980’s, plus decades of Iraqi violent repression and Kurdish armed resistance. These days there is still an undeclared war being fought in the border regions, with Turkish bombings and incursions an everyday occurrence.
On 20 July, nine Arab tourists were killed and 26 injured in the village of Parakhe near Zakho in northwestern Iraqi Kurdistan. They were killed by a mortar bombardment from a Turkish military base on Khamtir mountain. The Turkish government has not apologized for the attack and refuses to accept any responsibility. One of the local men who helped with delivering the dying and wounded to the hospital was Yousif Sindy. CPT first met Yousif on 17 June after two of his relatives were injured by a Turkish bombardment while tending to their fields. He has a message for you from Parakhe.
Plain clothes security forces attacked journalists at the protest being held by teachers and other government employees on the Arbat road last week.
February 21 and 22, CPT ran a non-violence training in the city of Soran.
They held a protest on Monday as part of an ongoing campaign calling for the payment of unpaid salaries.
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Community Peacemaker Teams - Iraqi Kurdistan builds partnerships to transform violence and oppression towards a just and peaceable society. Be part of our work and help us to continue accompanying people and communities that are affected by violence and oppression.
