Doctor Abbas Mansouran, a researcher in virology, immunology and diagnostic methods of bacterial infections, said that the footage of Kurdish fighters exposed to chemical weapons allegedly used by Turkey is clear evidence of crimes against humanity.
Dr Mansouran told Mezopotampa Agency that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) prevented delegations that wanted to conduct investigations into the region exposed to chemicals due to KDP’s cooperation with Turkey, and it made member states’ application to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) difficult.
“It is necessary to examine the casualties closely to determine the type of chemical used,” said the doctor. “We can say that various chemicals such as Cyclosarin (GF), chlorophine, Tabun (GA), and Sarin (GB) were used as well as Tungsten heavy metal alloy and white phosphorus.”
Mentioning Turkey’s history of chemical gas use, the Swedish citizen Iranian doctor stated that prohibited chemical weapons had been used against civilians and HPG members since 1993.
Last week, chemical weapons expert Jan Van Aken said, “Hulusi Akar’s statement in the Parliament that they only used pepper spray is enough for the OPCW to launch an investigation”.
According to Mansouran, although Turkish Defence Minister Akar’s words are sufficient to initiate an investigation, according to international law, all the evidence indicates that Turkey used toxic gas, which is much more powerful and deadly than pepper gas.
“If Turkey is sincere that it has not used chemical weapons, it should not fear an investigation committee that will determine the type of weapons and bombs used,” said Mansouran and called on the country to allow an independent expert delegation to go to the region and investigate, under the auspices of UN and UN Commission on Human Rights, Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders officials.
Dr Mansouran, who worked on burns during the Iraqi-Iranian war in 1980, had previously gone to North and East Syria as an independent scientist to investigate the hospitals and treat the wounded after allegations of Turkey’s chemical weapons use.
