Makhmour-Since the early morning of May 20, 2023, the Iraqi army has tried to surround the Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) with wire fences and concrete blocks. The resistance of the people living in the camp has entered its 14th day.

 On the first day of the Iraqi army’s attempt, the residents of the camp set up a tent to keep watch. Since then, they have been keeping watch by staying in the tent night and day.

Demonstration in Lucerne

On Thursday, June 1, a demonstration was held in Switzerland’s Lucerne city by the Democratic Kurdish Community Center (CDK) to call on the Iraqi government to end its attacks on the Makhmour refugee camp and to support the resistance in Makhmour. After staging a minute's silence for those who lost their lives while fighting for freedom of Kurdistan, the demonstration started.

Mulla Şahin, Co-chair of the Democratic Kurdish Community Center in Lucerne, made a speech at the demonstration. Condemning the attempt of the Iraqi army to surround the camp with wire fences and concrete blocks, Mulla Şahin said, “The Iraqi army has attempted to surround the Makhmour refugee camp recognized by the UNHCR with wire fences and concrete blocks. The residents of the camp have governed themselves since the camp was built. They have been resisting the attempts for more than 10 days. We, Kurds, know very well that the main reason behind these attacks is the aggravated isolation imposed on leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). Whenever the isolation imposed on our leader is intensified, the attacks on the Kurdish people and Kurdistan is intensified. Being aware of this, the Kurdish people will continue to grow their resistance against both the policy of isolation and the Treaty of Lausanne, which has entered its 100th year. This century will be the century of freedom for our leader, Kurdistan and the Kurdish people.”