On 16.05.1997 the security forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq (KDP) raided the hospital, the newspaper agency of Wilat, the Red Crescent of Kurdistan and cultural centre of Mesopotamia that massacred more than 80 civil rights activists, journalists and people injured in Erbil (Hewlêr).
Based on research done on one of the perpetrators of this massacre, the leader of KDP list named “Cemal Mortke”, who is also a MP for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Adopt this individual as a member of the KRG Parliament which was then followed by dissatisfaction with some of the victims’ families in front of the Parliament in Hewlêr. On the anniversary of the massacre they called to prosecute criminals and provide no disclosure of their family graves.
Instead of responding to the demands of the victims’ families, on 19.05.2014 KDP and its militants attacked the offices of the DIHA News Agency, Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), Rojî Wilat Newspaper and Bureaus of the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PÇDK). They arrested more than 20 activists and journalists including “Xebat Efrîn” the KNK chief in Başur (South Kurdistan).
The attack took place while all of these institutions had legal permission and security guards did not have any permission from the court.
On the other hand, Nûjîn Yusif the member of Diplomacy and Communication Committee for (TEV-DEM) Rojava Democratic Society Movement in Başur was arrested by the KDP militants in Hewlêr and deported to Rojava (West Kurdistan) while he worked as a diplomat.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Association (KMMK) calls these attacks as “the gross violations of journalism rights, freedom of speech and illegal and inconsistent with international human rights standards”, because according to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
However, in these circumstances closes the restaurant of Kurds from Bakur (North Kurdistan) in Hewlêr on false pretext due to abnormal movement of troops against Refugee Camp of Mexmur.
KMMK condemned the raids by KDP troops, demanding the unconditional release of detainees also open all the newspaper offices, DIHA News Agency, PCDC Members, headquarter of the KNK AND PAY Compensation to them.
KDP should allow the Kurdish people and political institutions to participate in the democratic process also hold peaceful protests.
Kurdistan Human Rights Association
21.05.2014
From the KMMK Website
Translated by Rojhelat.info