HDP calls on UN, OPCW to investigate allegations of Turkey's use of chemical warfare

The pro-Kurdish opposition People's Democratic Party in Turkey called on international institutions to investigate into allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish military in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

"There are serious reports and allegations that Turkey has been using chemical agents in its military operations since 2021 in the territories of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, which according to international law constitutes a war crime, and some images recently published by some media outlets further support such allegations," the Executive Council of HDP said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"We once again stress that use of chemical weapons is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, constitutes a war crime, and is a crime against humanity," it added.

"We urge the democratic community to raise their voice in the face of such incidents (...) We call on international institutions, particularly the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations to carry out an efficient investigation on this issue. We also emphasize that the Kurdistan Regional Government should investigate these allegations of use of chemical weapons and agents in their territories."

It concluded:

"We want to remind all parties once more that the Kurdish question could not be resolved through military means in the past, and neither it can be resolved by such means in the future. The only right path for the peoples in our country and the region is dialogue and negotiations on democratic grounds."