UK Kurds, Armenians and Cypriots demand halt to Turkey’s invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the Kurdish, Armenian and Cypriot communities in the UK demanded Prime Minister Boris Johnson take action to stop Turkey’s military invasion of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq.
Elif Sarican, co-chair of the Kurdish People’s Democratic Assembly of Britain, Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, and Annette Moskofian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee UK, delivered a letter to Johnson demanding him to impose sanctions on Turkey due to its invasion of south Kurdistan [Kurdistan Region of Iraq].
“In light of Turkish support for Azerbaijan in the 44-day war with Armenia last year, the Turkish state’s general stance in its border regions can only be described as aggressive,” the letter said.
“Following Turkey’s devastating invasion of Cyprus in 1974, we are worried about the possibility of history repeating itself if the UK doesn’t do more,” it added.
Further, persistent reports show that the Turkish military deploys chemical weapons and uses jihadist mercenaries in conjunction with their own military efforts, according to them.
On April 24, 2021, the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey launched a military operation against the Kurdish bordering villages in northern Iraq.
During the operation, Turkish forces carried out aerial bombardment against civilian targets, border villages and refugee camps, killing at least three civilian refugees, the letter noted.
They concluded that “We urge the Government to use its diplomatic position to stop the invasion. We particularly ask for the Government to put in place sanctions to be lifted only when Turkey ceases its military operations in South Kurdistan.”