617 individuals and organizations from 28 countries call on the Kurdistan Regional Government to take action for peace
On behalf of the Hear Us Now: Stop the Bombing! campaign, which is led by families who face threats and lasting impacts of the Turkish cross-border operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has sent this petition letter to various offices of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
In solidarity with the requests of the families of the Hear Us Now campaign, 617 individuals and organizations’ representatives of 28 countries have undersigned this petition letter and are asking the KRG to:
Engage in fostering peace talks with all involved governments and armed groups to create a lasting and just peace built on nonviolent means.
Investigate and compensate past deaths and civilian losses due to cross-border bombings.
Recognize those killed due to bombings as victims of violent conflict and list the correct cause of death on their death certificate.
Meet with the families who have lost members due to cross-border bombings and others who have sustained losses from this ongoing violence in their home areas.
Based on CPT’s data collection, in 2020, Turkish airstrikes and ground operations killed 19 civilians and wounded 15 civilians and severely impacted many areas of Iraqi Kurdistan. In addition to the continued economic and life-threatening effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, many families, whose livelihood depend on farming and animal husbandry, and local business owners could not plant or harvest, raise their animals, and produce sufficient food or income for the winter months due to the military operations. According to the report published by the KRG Parliament in September 2020, the Turkish and Iranian cross-border operations led to the displacement of approximate 504 villages since 1992.
In light of the above data as well as the recent threats of a possible eruption of war between Peshmerga and PKK forces in Dinarte, Nahla and Chamanke areas, the requests of the families organizing this campaign and those who support them are more urgent than ever.
Kurdistan Regional Government, please hear them now and respond to their call.
CPT-IK would like to thank everyone who has signed and shared this petition from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America.