Peshmerga ministry slams attack on youth for displaying Kurdish flag

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan - The Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga Ministry has strongly condemned what is said was “the disgraceful behavior” of Iraqi officers who attacked a Kurdish youth in a disputed region south of Kirkuk “solely for carrying the Kurdistan flag.”

In a statement, the ministry described the incident as a “clear violation of basic human rights,” emphasizing that the Kurdish flag “is a symbol of Kurdistan's identity and pride,” recognized under the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 in “federal democratic Iraq.”

Stressing that “no one should be targeted with violence or assault” for carrying the Kurdish flag, the Peshmerga Ministry called on Iraqi authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and “bring those responsible for this act to justice.”

The Ministry concluded by underlining the importance of preventing “the recurrence of such actions, which do not serve the peaceful coexistence of the communities in these areas.”

Of note, in the Kurdistan Region the Peshmerga Ministry is the equivalent to a ministry of defense.

Earlier on Tuesday, a video obtained by Rudaw showed an Iraqi security officer attacking a Kurdish youth with an AK-47 rifle in the disputed district of Tuz Khurmatu, south of Kirkuk. Eyewitnesses reported that the assault occurred after the young man was seen displaying the Kurdistan flag.


The incident sparked outrage in Tuz Khurmatu, especially among members of the Kurdish community.

One local, Mohammed Hussein, dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing, told Rudaw, “Why would they beat him? Aren’t we human beings? Kurds are a dignified community, and there should be no discrimination.”

Hussein added, “For Kurds, life here is not safe,” while expressing hope that “Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens can live peacefully” in the disputed area.

The assault notably unfolded on Iraq’s general election day. A Kurdish resident of the Kurdistan Region’s eastern Sulaimani province, originally from Tuz Khurmatu, told Rudaw, “As Kurds, it is our duty to vote for our nation and our land.”

On the attack, he added, “It is an unfortunate event. It doesn’t scare us or stop us from voting; instead, it motivates us even more.”

Importantly, Major General Saad Maan, head of Iraq's Security Media Cell, on Tuesday confirmed to Rudaw that "the soldier who assaulted a [Kurdish] citizen in Tuz Khurmatu has been arrested."

 

Earlier, he had stated that security authorities would conduct an investigation “as quickly as possible," affirming, “We categorically reject such actions," and adding, “We consider the flag of the Kurdistan Region to be our flag, and this type of behavior is not allowed in any way, shape, or form.”

The head of the Security Media Cell further noted that security services “will launch an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident as quickly as possible.”

“We will not allow the recurrence of such actions in the future,” he pledged.