Massacre, harassment, rape and KDP policies...

 

NEWS CENTRE - Due to the increasing massacres, violence, harassment and rape policies of the KDP and Barzani family, Southern Kurdistan has been turned into a graveyard for women, while the perpetrators are protected by the KDP.

 

Turkey's attacks, disagreements between political parties in Southern Kurdistan and contradictions between Baghdad and Hewlêr deeply affect the lives of women and children living in the region. In addition, the current policies in the region are destroying the rights that women have gained as a result of long struggles day by day. The existing laws cannot protect women; women in Southern Kurdistan cannot even benefit from the rights they have.

 

In this dossier, in the context of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, we reveal the situation faced by women in Southern Kurdistan. In this compilation, we draw attention to the violence, harassment, rape and massacres against women and the impunity of the perpetrators of these crimes.

 

Amnesty International recently released a report on the situation of women in Iraq and Southern Kurdistan. The report is based on the testimonies of women survivors of violence. 

 

According to the report; women survivors of violence live in anxiety and women who file criminal complaints face threats. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows: ‘According to the data of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, 14 thousand criminal complaints were filed in Iraq and Kurdistan Region in the first 4 months of this year. Most of these criminal complaints were filed by women. However, only 100 cases were sentenced as a result of these criminal complaints.

 

Approximately 3 thousand perpetrators were released on bail. Approximately 4,500 cases resulted in reconciliation due to tribal relations.’

 

In addition to the report, we have compiled some incidents that took place in the last 30 years and reflect the situation.

 

Countless harassment, rape and massacres

 

The name of Barzanis and KDP, who established a ‘dynastic state’ by designing the people of Southern Kurdistan through women's bodies, breaking their reflexes and making them cooperate with the enemy, is mentioned in countless rapes, massacres of women, abductions and unsolved murders.

 

While the names of some of the murdered and raped women were found, some of these incidents were brought before the courts of Southern Kurdistan and some of them were brought before international courts, especially in the USA.

 

Sarya Mirza Reşo: In 1980, she was raped by Nihat Barzani, one of the sons of Mele Mistefa Barzani, in Mêrgesor district of Hewlêr. Sarya Mirza Reşo was later murdered on Nihat Barzani's orders.

 

Mina: Mina, surname unknown, was raped by Nihat Barzani in 1991 in Mesîf. Mina's father was one of the victims of Anfal. Nihat Barzani threatened the family to prevent the incident from becoming public, saying, ‘If you don't take care of it, I will put the rest of the family through Enfal,’ and as a result of the threats, Mina was murdered by her family.

 

Çiğzi Bêrsîyavî: Her family went as bodyguards to Nihat Barzani's house in Serêreş, the centre where the Barzani family was located in the 1990s. Bêrsiyavî was raped and murdered there. Bêrsiyavî's father was known as one of Mele Mistefa's closest friends. Nihat Barzani massacred other members of the Bêrsiyavî family in Akrê as part of a plan. The incident was reflected as domestic violence.

 

Fayîde Mizurî: One of the nieces of Hussein Mizurî, who has been in charge of Masoud Barzani's private security for 30 years. The family of 17-year-old Fayîde Mizurî, who was kidnapped and raped by Nihat Barzani in Masîf in 2013, was later informed that she had committed suicide. Hussein Mizurî was silenced in exchange for a large sum of money, while his rank within the KDP was raised.

 

Hêlin Elwan Sawa: 17-year-old Hêlin Elwan Sawa, from a Christian family, started working with her family in 1996 for İzzettin Berwari, a member of the KDP Politburo. Hêlin Elwan Sawa was repeatedly raped and her body was found near the Duhok Dam. The incident reached the ears of Massoud Barzani and a commission of enquiry was formed under the leadership of Muhsin Dizeyi by order of Barzani. Izzettin Berwari confirmed the incident to the investigation commission and said that Hêlin Elwan Sawa was raped by Neçirvan Barzani. Masoud Barzani covered up the incident after he learnt that the perpetrator was Nechirvan Barzani. Izzettin Berwari, who was at a lower level at the time, was promoted to KDP Politburo member.

 

Cîhan Taha: Cîhan Taha, who criticised the practices of the KDP government in South Kurdistan, died in a suspicious traffic accident on 26 October 2023. Cîhan Taha, who stood against the KDP and led many actions against wrong policies, had posted on his digital media account hours before the incident, ‘My path leads to death, death is calling me’. In the information revealed after his death, it was revealed that Cîhan Taha was threatened by Masrour Barzani's team before his suspicious death. While Cîhan Taha's suspicious death was reflected in the lawsuit filed against Masrour Barzani in the US, Cîhan Taha's brother Şaxewan Taha summarised the situation with the words ‘My brother's death is a political murder’.

 

Naz Silêman Yakub: Naz Silêman Yakub, a lawyer, was abducted in Hewlêr in 2016. Two days later, her body was found burnt on the streets of Hewlêr. Naz Silêman Yakub was known for defending women who were murdered and raped by the KDP. While she had been threatened by the KDP many times before, the last person she spoke to on the phone before she was murdered was identified as Sirwan Barzani.

 

Beyan Zeynelabidin 22-year-old Beyan Zeynelabidin was kidnapped in 1992 while studying at Mosul University. Beyan Zeynelabidin, whose father was known to oppose KDP policies, was detained in Dohuk by Seid Bamernê and Salim Koremarki, the team of KDP Politburo Executive Committee Officer Fazil Miran. The family refused to join the KDP and Beyan Zeynelabidin's body was found days later on the streets of Dohuk. Fazil Miran's team continued their repression after the massacre and arrested Beyan Zeynelabidin's father in Amêdiyê.

 

Nesrîn Heso Zebari: 16-year-old Nesrîn Heso Zebari was raped by Berjeng Zebari, son of Babekir Zebari, Military Advisor to the President of the Kurdistan Region. Berjeng Zebari's team stated that Nesrîn Zebari was raped by her brother Dilêr Zebari and murdered them both. Babekir Zebari, who intervened after the truth of the incident was realised, gave money to Nesrîn Heso Zebari's family to keep them quiet.

 

Nazik and Solîn: Nazik (16), one of the brothers whose families did not want to join the KDP, was kidnapped in 1994 by Kadir Kaçak, the KDP's Sinjar officer, KDP Politburo member Adil Botani and Free Lezgin Sindori. Solîn (17), the second daughter of the family who refused to submit to the KDP, was abducted and raped in 1995. The bodies of both sisters were found naked. The family from Akrê left South Kurdistan due to pressures.

 

The team led by Kadir Kaçak kidnapped and raped 14 women in Akrê and 17 women in Duhok in 1996. All the raped women were murdered. All of the murdered women were among those who had lost their husbands and families in Anfal, and the KDP held them in the status of ‘martyrs’ families’. The family of one of them, Fevziye Islam Rêkanîye, filed a criminal complaint against the perpetrators. Findings of the massacred women can still be found in Badê village, Duhok Dam, Kevaşê village, Pişta Bablo area, Pişta Dola Besrê and Baniya Bakozê.

 

In addition, Kadir Kaçak, who abandoned the Yazidis with 12 thousand KDP peshmerga when ISIS attacked Sinjar in 2014, is also held responsible for the captivity of thousands of Yazidi women captured by ISIS.

 

Sewre Reqib Esker Akreyî: Together with his wife Eziz Mihemed, he seized corruption and criminal documents related to the KDP. KDP murdered Sewre Reqib Akreyî and her husband Mihemed Reqip Esker Akreyî by shooting them in the house they raided to prevent their crimes from being exposed. The massacre was carried out by Xesrew Goran, the head of the Kurdistan Region Election Commission of the KDP, and his team.

 

Sakine İzzet Şêxo: She was raped and murdered by KDP special forces in 1991 in the village of Guherzê in Amêdiyê, where the war and Turkish attacks were the most intense.

 

Nazdar Bamernê: Nazdar Bamernê, a doctor, was murdered by Parastin in Hewlêr in 1991.

 

PAK women: In 1991, when the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) was still in its founding phase, 23 members of the party's leadership were handed over to Turkey by Aziz Veysi and his team, who are now in charge of the Zêrevani forces. The 23 PAK members, including many women, were murdered by MIT.

 

Eyşan Mihemed Elî: He was shot and killed in Hewlêr in 1992 during the protests against the KDP when the KDP opened fire on the people.

 

Hejyan Eyûb: Hejyan Eyûb, who was constantly subjected to violence by her husband, repeatedly applied for help to official institutions, but her applications remained unanswered. Finally, she was strangled to death by her husband. Although there were autopsy reports, the massacre was covered up. The person who murdered Hejyan Eyûb was working for Parastin.