PKK denies involvement in market fires in Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraq’s Interior Ministry is spreading falsehoods and manipulation, KCK says

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a political umbrella organization that includes the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has denied allegations linking the PKK to recent fires in Iraqi Kurdistan. The KCK issued a statement on Monday, refuting claims made by the Iraqi Interior Ministry that a PKK-affiliated group was responsible for the fires.

Earlier on Monday and during a joint press conference in Baghdad, the Iraqi and Kurdish interior ministries accused the PKK of instigating the fires, announcing the arrest of three suspects who reportedly confessed to being PKK members.

The KCK’s statement said.

“Media outlets have suggested that the fires in Kirkuk, Erbil, and Duhok were caused by a PKK-affiliated group. We categorically deny these allegations. It is widely known that these attacks were carried out by the Turkish intelligence service (MIT) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) intelligence service, Parastin.

The PKK has always stood against threats and injustice, earning the trust and respect of the peoples of Kurdistan and the Middle East. Currently, we are engaged in a fierce battle against Turkish forces, who seek to annex parts of Iraq and southern Kurdistan with support from the KDP. Turkish soldiers, now overt in their operations, disrespect and harass our people in Zakho, Duhok, and Erbil, conducting unauthorized identity checks and displacing civilians through drone and artillery attacks.

Despite these escalating crimes by the Turkish army, the KDP continues its collaboration, and the Sudani government remains silent. Our freedom fighters resist these occupation attacks using all available means. The Turkish state, despite deploying banned weapons and advanced technology, faces significant resistance and setbacks. The Turkish military can only operate under Iraqi and KDP disguises.

It is regrettable that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has made such statements while we are resisting these occupying forces. When ISIS attacked Iraq, our movement mobilized to protect both Iraqi and Kurdish people, contributing significantly to the liberation of Erbil, Makhmur, Kirkuk, Sinjar, and Mosul from ISIS. We paid a heavy price, and our efforts were acknowledged by the then Iraqi Prime Minister. Accusations that we would harm the people and markets of Kirkuk, Erbil, and Duhok, whom we defended against ISIS, are baseless and manipulative.

We urge the Iraqi state and Ministry of Interior to act responsibly and identify the true culprits. We also call on the people of Iraq and Kurdistan to stand against these false allegations and oppose any actions that legitimize the Turkish occupation.”

In 1984, the PKK began an armed struggle against the Turkish state, which continues to deny the constitutional recognition of Kurds. The PKK’s fight aims for greater autonomy in Turkish Kurdistan, representing the Kurdish minority, which comprises over 22.5 million of Turkey’s 84-million population. This ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas.

The PKK primarily targets Turkish military and government security installations, taking care to avoid civilian casualties.

A large Kurdish community in Turkey and abroad openly supports the PKK’s cause.

(With files from ANF)