NEWS CENTER – Members of the European Parliament (EP) have written a letter to the Hague-based OPCW after it failed to investigate despite findings and documents pointing to the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish state.
MEPs from different groups in the European Parliament (EP) wrote a letter to the OPCW entitled “Allegations of Turkey’s use of chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the urgent need for an independent investigation”.
The MPs presented evidence to the OPCW, including footage of the aftermath of Turkish state attacks, visits by journalists to southern Kurdistan, investigations by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and the Turkish state’s admission that it was involved in the war used tear gas.
The letter reads as follows:
“As Members of the European Parliament, we are deeply concerned by the credible allegations of Turkey’s use of chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the lack of an independent investigation. The Chemical Weapons Convention is an important achievement, given that, as we read on your website, 98 percent of the world, with the exception of four countries, is protected by the Convention. However, Kurdish experience shows that even within that 98 percent, the scope is not universal. Protection depends on there being a state speaking on your behalf. The Kurds in particular do not have their own state that could make such a claim.
The need for a state claim seems to us to undermine the fundamental spirit of the Convention, to deny its important universality and to limit its ability to rid the world of the chemical weapons for which it was created.
Regarding the concrete situation in northern Iraq, where the Turkish army is fighting against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), we note that the Turkish government has even accepted the military use of tear gas, which of course is forbidden by the Convention. There are worrying reports from journalists who have spoken to local civilians who claim to have suffered symptoms related to chemical attacks after Turkish shelling. There are videos showing Turkish soldiers installing hoses in tunnels where PKK fighters are taking shelter, and other videos showing the agony of two Kurdish guerrillas.
These recent videos convinced Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, President of Turkey’s Medical Association, of the need for an independent investigation, but when she spoke up she was detained, fueling fears that Turkey is hiding something. There are also clues in the form of chemical containers and a gas mask box. This evidence was enough to prompt the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) to call for an independent investigation. They also attempted to conduct an investigation, but when they traveled to the site to interview affected civilians, they were denied permission.
We’ll assume you’re very familiar with the evidence we’ve summarized above – so you must already be aware of the urgent need for an independent investigation that can insist on going where it’s needed. Of course, we cannot predict the outcome of such an investigation, but if it does reveal that Turkey has used chemical weapons, it would be an important first step in eliminating chemical weapons.
As European elected representatives, we feel it is our duty to raise awareness of this worrying situation and to do everything in our power to ensure that it is properly investigated.”
The MEPs who signed the letter:
ALFONSI Francois (Greens/EFA) ; SCHIEDER Andreas (S&D) ; VILLUMSEN Nikolaj (THE LEFT)
ARENA Maria (S&D) ;
AUKEN Margrete (Greens/EFA) ; BITEAU Benoit (Greens/EFA) ;
BJORK Malin (THE LEFT) ; BOURGEOIS Geert (ECR) ;
CAREME Damien (Greens/EFA) ; CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (NI) ; CHAIBI Leila (THE LEFT) ;
COMIN I OLIVERES Antoni (NI) ; CORMAND David (Greens/EFA) ; CORRAO Ignazio (Greens/EFA) ; D’AMATO Rosa (Greens/EFA) ; DELBOS- CORFIELD Gwendoline (Greens/EFA) ;
DELLI Karima (Greens/EFA) ;
DEMIREL Oezlem (THE LEFT) ; FRAGKOS Emmanouil (ECR) ; GREGOROVÁ Marketa (Greens/EFA) ; GRUFFAT Claude (Greens/EFA) ; GUSMÃO José (THE LEFT) ;
HEIDE Hannes (S&D) ;
JADOT Yannick (Greens/EFA);
KANKO Assita (ECR) ;
LARROUTUROU Pierre (S&D) ; MACMANUS Chris (THE LEFT) ; MATIAS Marisa (THE LEFT) ; MELCHIOR Karen (Renew) ;
MIRANDA Ana (Greens/EFA) ; PAPADAKIS Demetris (S&D) ;
PEDICINI Piernicola (Greens/EFA) ;
PETER-HANSEN Kira Marie (Greens/EFA);
PISAPIA Giuliano (S&D) ;
PONSATI Clara (NI) ;
PUIGDEMONT Carles (NI) ;
RIBA I GINER Diana (Greens/EFA) ; RIVASI Michèle (Greens/EFA) ; RODRÍGUEZ PALOP Eugenia (THE LEFT) ;
ROOSE Caroline (Greens/EFA) ; SANTOS Isabel (S&D);
SATOURI Mounir (Greens/EFA) ;
SIDL Guenther (S&D) ;
SINČIĆ Ivan Vilibor (NI) ;
SMERIGLIO Massimiliano (S&D) ;
SOLE Jordi (Greens/EFA) ;
TOUSSAINT Marie (Greens/EFA) ; URBAN CRESPO Miguel (THE LEFT) ; VILLANUEVA RUIZ Idoia (THE LEFT) ; ŽDANOKA Tatjana (NI)
