Protesters are expected fill the streets of Sulaymaniyah on Monday to demonstrate against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al Sudani in capital Baghdad and to officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil (Hewlêr).
The National Sovereignty Defence Council in Sulaymaniyah rejects Turkey’s attacks in the Kurdistan Region and aims to protest Erdoğan’s visit. The council and members of the public will gather outside the Iraqi Council of Ministers in the northern Iraqi city at 1pm local time.
The KRG have laid on an official welcome for the President, with Turkish flags adorning the streets. Civilians in the Kurdistan Region reacted angrily, deeming Erdoğan unworthy of such a welcome in the light of Turkey’s treatment of Kurds and a long history of fatal military bombardments on the region.
Significant civil unrest is expected, with demonstrations and outcry on social media. “Erdoğan for Kurds is what Putin for Ukrainians or Netanyahu for Palestinians,” a contributor said, joining the conversation on X.
This is the KRG capital, covering the 8000-years old Erbil citadel with the Turkish flag to welcome Erdogan.
Erdogan for Kurds is what Putin for Ukrainians or Netanyahu for Palestinians.
Maybe EU-based Kurdish nationalists have a word for their godfather nationalist Barzani? pic.twitter.com/KHUCMwFjlk
— Kamal Chomani (@KamalChomani) April 22, 2024
Another contributor said, “#Barzani welcomes #Erdogan’s visit to Iraq by projecting the Turkish state flag on the Erbil citadel.” Discussing the betrayal of the Erbil government against the Kurdish population, she continued, “Under this flag the Kurds experienced all the effects of Turkey’s annihilationist policies, including massacres, culturecide, lingucide, forced displacement, denial of existence, and so on. This is so disgusting.”
What else can explain this except full submission to your coloniser! #Barzani welcomes #Erdogan’s visit to Iraq by projecting the Turkish state flag on the Erbil citadel. This signifies nothing but the Barzani betrayal of the Kurds. It demonstrates nothing but the readiness of… pic.twitter.com/goP9q6yFDH
— Rojîn Mûkrîyan (@RojinMukriyan) April 22, 2024
In a similar refrain, another social media user questioned whether the projection of the Turkish flag onto the streets of Erbil amounted to “good diplomacy”.
Late last night, I decided to drive to the Castle by myself to clear my head. But, seeing this did not sit well with me and truly blinded me.
I question whether this is an example of ‘good diplomacy’?! I’m sorry, but it doesn’t seem to be. pic.twitter.com/1mNvsc5Wte
— Juan Farhad Galali (@JuanFarhad) April 22, 2024
Erdoğan’s diplomatic Iraq mission, officially touted for trade talks, comes ahead of a planned large-scale military attack against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters in border areas of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region later in the spring. Kurdish factions have long deemed developing allegiances between Turkey and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), a ruling party in the Kurdistan Region, as ‘disloyal’ and called for unity against Turkey.
Among other officials, Erdoğan’s entourage includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Defence Minister Yaşar Güler.
