As the Turkish armed forces continue to bomb Zap, Metina and Avashin regions, ongoing and relentless since April 23, various civil society organisations and human rights activists living in the regions of Iraq, where Kurdistan Regional Government rules, are concerned about the claims that Turkey has deployed “chemical weapons” against Kurdish fighters.

Heyer Fazıl, a human rights activist from the Germian region of Iraq shared his thoughts on the silence of the international public regarding such serious claims.

“If we question why the international powers do not act, one reason lies within the attitude of the Iraqi central government and South Kurdistan regional government. They should open areas and invite international delegations to come and observe what happens and where it happens,” Fazıl said.

Another Kurdish human rights activist İdris Heme Xerîb compared the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Saddam Hussein, who pursued an extensive chemical weapons program during the Iran–Iraq War in 1980s.

“The truth is that a new Saddam Hussein has emerged in the region and that is Erdoğan. Erdoğan has left Saddam behind with his speed. How Saddam attacked Iran, Kuwait and the Kurds. Erdoğan does the same things. He attacks the four parts of Kurdistan and other countries as well,” he said.

Zeynep Adil, a resident of Germian region, urged the international public to raise their voices against the Turkish campaign, which she defines as a ‘cruelty’, “The political powers, especially in South Kurdistan, should now take a decisive stance. People should be more attentive and should break their silence against this cruelty, either by writing, speaking out or organising demonstrations,” she said.