ŞÎLAN SALIH

Sulaymaniyah- The Iranian regime, the Turkish state and Iraqi Ba'athist government implemented their oppressive policies on the Kurdish people from 1980 to 1990. This has not changed today. Iran uses all kinds of oppression to suppress the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ uprising; it used poisonous gas in girls’ schools while the Turkish state used and still uses chemical weapons against Kurdish people and the guerillas fighting for freedom. Despite international conventions prohibiting the use of chemical weapons, there is an international silence against the use of chemical weapons in the Medya Defense Zones.

“The use of chemical weapons is internationally prohibited,” said researcher Îrad Menûçeher. “When chemical weapons were used during the first and second world wars, they caused millions of casualties. Due to the casualties, the use of chemical weapons was prohibited in warfare. However, chemical weapons are used against the Kurdish people in the Kurdistan Region today.” Îrad Menûçeher talked about the effects of chemical weapons on both human beings and nature. “The use of chemical weapons affects all living creatures and nature. The international community banned the use of chemical and biological weapons after World War 1 and reinforced the ban in 1972 and 1993. Many countries have signed and ratified the Geneva Protocol, which prohibited the use of chemical weapons in warfare.

‘An independent investigation must be launched’

The Turkish state is one of the countries that use chemical weapons in recent years. It has used chemical weapons in the Medya Defense Zones. However, the international human rights organizations and political parties remain silent against this. “The international law establishes the penalties for those who use chemical weapons. However, the economic interests of countries cause them to ignore the penalties. According to international law, an independent investigation must be launched against the countries that use chemical weapons.”

‘The effect of the chemical weapons is long-term’

Îrad Menûçeher concluded her speech saying, “Chemical weapons do not only kill people but also affect all living creatures and nature. The effect of the chemical weapons is long-term. However, no investigation has been launched against Turkey for using chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region."