ŞENGAL, SOUTHERN KURDISTAN
Tension had arisen in Şengal yesterday after two of the civilian victims of a Turkish airstrike were arrested by the Iraqi government. The body of a martyred YBŞ fighter is also being withheld.
The people of Şengal organized a protest demanding the body of their martyr, and the immediate release of their two civilians. After the peoples’ council of the liberated area met with Iraqi officials late last night, it was announced that the government agreed to the demands of the people.
Turkey-KDP attacks
On 9 November, the Turkish state attacked the civil defense forces which had been established to fight off ISIS attacks against Şengal. The KDP coordinated airstrike targeted a location of the YBŞ fighters in the village of Barê in Xanesor. The attack wounded three people, one of which was a fighter and two civilians. The two wounded civilians were arrested in Mosul hospital by the Iraq regime, while the body of the martyrs was withheld sparking outrage among the people. The people who marched demanding the release of their fighters and the body of their martyr seized control of an Iraqi-checkpoint after Iraqi soldiers attempted to stop the action.
The march which was started in the Peoples’ Municipality of Şengal was participated by hundreds of people. The people protested the attacks of the Turkish state, the arrest of their two civilians and the agreement signed between the KDP and Iraq to seize control of the area. The people, chanting “revolt, revolt, revolt” had made clear that until they receive the body of their martyr and their two civilians are released, the people will not stop protesting.
After the tensions which escalated at the liberated check-point, the Autonomous Peoples Assembly of Şengal met with Iraqi officials and listed their demands before the protests come to an end.
Heso Îbrahîm, the spokesperson for the assembly, announced that the promises had been made by the Iraqi officials as to the release of the civilians. Heso continued to explain that the officials had promised that the body of the martyr, whose identity has not yet been revealed, and the two civilians will have been released until this evening. The spokesperson also warned that protests may become violent if the promises made are not fulfilled.
