Iraqi experts evaluated the decision to ban so-called parties affiliated with the terrorist organization PKK and the steps taken to combat terrorism following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Iraq on April 22. In this context, academics and political scientists Mohammed Amir Dershevi, stated that the banning of three parties that are extensions of the terrorist organization PKK is an important step towards improving Iraq’s relations with Turkey. Dershevi said, “Iraq should not have problems with a neighboring country like Turkey.”
Emphasizing that there is a serious problem with terrorist organizations in Iraq, Dershevi said, “Bringing groups that are on the world’s list of terrorist organizations to Iraq and supporting these groups contradicts the interests of the Iraqi people.” Reminding that the people of Sinjar, which is affiliated with Mosul, were forced to leave their homes due to the terrorist organization ISIS, Dershevi said that the Iraqi government should develop a policy for the people’s return and ensure security in Sinjar. However, he claimed that the Iraqi government supported some groups on the list of terrorist organizations within Hashd al-Shaabi. Noting that one of these groups was the terrorist organization PKK, Dershevi said, “These groups are being financed through the 8th Brigade of Hashd al-Shaabi and other means. This situation is not good for Iraq.”
Dershevi also assessed the Iraqi judiciary’s decision to ban three parties allegedly affiliated with the terrorist organization PKK, stating that this decision was “a step taken to correct mistakes.” Dershevi said, “Iraq should take this issue seriously and not have problems with a neighboring country like Turkey.”
Iraqi international relations expert Ramadan Nasreddin“It is clearly seen that the three banned parties are ideologically affiliated with the PKK. This is also understood from their slogans. The PKK is considered a banned organization according to Iraqi law,” he said. Stating that the decision to close the parties has great importance in two respects, Nasreddin noted the following:
- From a Legal Perspective:Banned parties will not be able to participate in the KRG parliamentary elections.
- From a Political Perspective:This situation shows that relations between Iraq and Turkey are on a positive course. Many steps have been taken after Turkish President Erdoğan’s visit to Iraq. The recognition of the PKK as a banned organization is one of these steps. The operations conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces on the KRG-Iraq border are also related to these developments.
