ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Several Kurdish artists, including prominent ones like Shivan Perwer, have launched a campaign to encourage political parties to prevent a civil war, following a recent escalation of tensions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The death of five KDP-affiliated Peshmerga fighters in Duhok province’s Metina area on June 5 following a clash with the PKK over land control has taken the thorny relations of both parties to another stage. Despite both parties’ opposition to a civil war, pundits warn that the continuation of the tensions could lead to an intra-Kurdish war.
The group of artists from the four parts of Greater Kurdistan - the Kurdish areas of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran - have come together in Erbil, calling on the political parties to prevent a civil war.
“If a war erupts between political parties, we will lose our achievements. We will be the fuel of the war and things will be out of control,” Nasser Razazi told reporters on Wednesday during a press conference of the group in Erbil. The singer is originally from Iran.
He added that they all have to protect the Kurdistan Region “which other three parts [of Kurdistan] are proud of.”
Perwer, originally from Turkey, said that Kurdish artists from all parts of Greater Kurdistan can only meet in the Kurdistan Region as other parts have been invaded.
“In this part of Kurdistan, we have gained some achievements. Here, we can meet each other. How nice it is! However, the enemy is working on invading this part as well,” said the prominent singer, whose patriotic songs were used as morale boosters by Peshmerga fighters when fighting the Iraqi army before the nineties.
The delegation visited the Peshmerga Ministry on Tuesday as part of their awareness campaign.
Minister Shoresh Ismail told the artists the current situation of the Kurdistan Region cannot handle any conflict or unrest. “We all have to be united and have one position,” he was cited in a statement from the ministry.
Conducting interviews with Kurdish media outlets is part of their campaign. They were hosted by Rudaw TV late Tuesday.
