Forty-two parties met in Erbil on Wednesday to condemn the attacks that have killed at least 33 civilians since Saturday. They include prominent parties such as the PUK and Gorran from the Kurdistan Region, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish HDP party, the ruling PYD in Syrian Kurdistan or Rojava, as well some Turkmen and Christian parties.
“We believe that the attacks by Turkey’s regime have put Rojava in a very difficult situation and what is being done against Afrin nears genocide. It is a crime against all the components of Rojava, thus we cannot be silent with regards to these events,” read the joint statement published following the meeting.
The “brutal” attack on the civilians of Afrin is an extension of plots staged against the Kurdistan Region, the parties asserted.
“We condemn and protest these attacks and we are expressing our full support for the just struggle of the people of Rojava and the brave struggle of the YPG and YPJ,” the statement added, referring to Kurdish armed forces in Rojava.
The parties called on the international community, the United Nations, and the UN Security Council not to stand by and remain silent as the operation continues in Afrin.
An estimated 5,000 people have already been displaced from their homes in areas near the Afrin-Turkey border due to the fighting.
“The attacks on the people of Kurdistan are against the foundations of UN treaties and human rights charters and all democratic principles, so if the international community respects humans, it must protect humans of Kurdistan against attacks, dangers and threats,” the parties demanded.
One prominent party missing from the joint statement is the Kurdistan Region’s KDP. Masoud Barzani, the party’s president, said on Monday that he was “concerned” about the Afrin operation and asked all sides to seek peaceful solutions to their problems.
The KDP has strong relations with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
