Barzani condemns attack on Newroz celebrations in Afrin, calls for justice

Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has condemned the attack on Newroz celebrations in the Jindires district of Afrin, which left four Kurds dead and two others injured. The attack was carried out by the Ahrar al-Sharqiya group, who opened fire on a group of people celebrating a Newroz fire.

According to local sources, the victims were identified as Ferhan Osman (43), Ismail Osman (38), Muhammed Ismail (18), and Muhammed Osman (42,) Kurds who were lighting a bonfire in celebration of Newroz, or "the new year," that marks the arrival of the new year on the spring equinox, and in a political context the day the fire of resistance against tyrants is rekindled.

Barzani has called for the perpetrators of the attack to be found and brought to justice.

In a statement released to Rûdaw, Mesrur Barzani said, "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the armed attack on civilians who were celebrating the Newroz festival in Jindires in Afrin yesterday evening. My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured."

He continued, "We call on the authorities in the region to find those responsible for this heinous crime and bring them to justice. There can be no justification for such an attack on innocent people, and we must work together to ensure that those responsible are held accountable."

Ahrar al-Sharqiya was sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department in July 2021 over "crimes against civilians," including "unlawful killings, abductions, torture, and seizures of private property." The group is known to have in its ranks former members of the Islamic State (ISIS).

The attack has sparked widespread outrage and grief in the region and a national day of mourning was declared in Afrin, and there have been protests and demonstrations calling for justice.