The Hull and District Trades Council* in England, voiced protest against the Turkish incursions into Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) after they were informed by Kurdish members of local councils on the humanitarian crisis and instability caused by the incursions, and sent a letter to Turkey’s ambassador to UK, Ümit Yalçın.
They said:
“We are writing to you on behalf of Hull and District Trades Council to protest at the continuing attacks being made on Kurdish people living in Iraq under the name of ‘Operation Claw Lock’. Our organisation which represents tens of thousands of workers in the northeast of England believes that Turkey’s military operations are not only causing a humanitarian crisis in the area but are also destabilising the area and providing safe havens for ISIS to regroup and threaten any democratic elements in the area and beyond.”
The letter continues, urging Turkey to withdraw its forces from KRI:
“We insist that you halt the military attacks on Northern Iraq and allow the democratically elected representatives of the Kurdish people to rule without interference. We note that according to our sources, Turkey has already established more than 30 ‘zones’ of control in Northern Iraq and that in those ‘zones’ ISIS forces are becoming organised. This is unacceptable to any progressive looking country or party in Europe or across the globe. Turkey’s reputation will suffer greatly unless this invasion is halted, and Turkish forces withdraw.”
* The Hull and District Trades Council works to unify trade unions in the northeast of England, campaigning on issues affecting workers and communities.
