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Assyrian Awareness: Organizations Responses
Resolution Adopted by the Parliamentary Group of the Left Party of Sweden
Resolution adopted by the parliamentary group of the Left Party of Sweden
To the Government of Iraqi Kurdistan
To the Leadership of Kurdistan Democratic Party
For many years our party, the Left Party of Sweden, has supported the Kurdish people in its struggle for cultural identity and national rights in different countries in the Middle East. We have, as strongly as possible, supported the decisions and resolutions of the Kurdish Parliament in the important issue of the future status of the Iraqi Kurdistan. We have worked for foreign aid and economic support for the Kurdish people in Iraqi Kurdistan. Briefly, this was our policy on Iraqi Kurdistan.
Therefore, we have with great perplexity and affliction received reports on crimes against Human rights in Iraqi Kurdistan. The latest example of this is a report on crimes against the Chaldean/Assyrian minority in the country and against the Chaldean Youkhana Yalda Khaie from the village Chilke Nisar, where he has been working for restoration of a Christian church.
Youkhana has been imprisoned by the authorities of the Kurdish Democratic Party and mistreated and severely tortured. He has only been permitted to receive visits twice by his sister Khawa Warda. She was personally threatened by the authorities and told not to tell anyone anything about the conditions of Youkhana.
Regrettably, this is not the first time we have received reports of crimes against the Human Rights and against the Assyrian/Chaldean minority in Iraqi Kurdistan. We have earlier received reports of several Assyrians/Chaldeans who have been persecuted and murdered because of their religious or political ideas. The Assyrian minority in Iraqi Kurdistan has, due to the persecutions, been decreasing for years.
We, the Left Party strongly protests against these persecutions of the Assyrian/Chaldean minority in Iraqi Kurdistan. We protest that the authorities have permitted different local radio stations to broadcast programs that openly encourage people to commit crimes against the Assyrian/Chaldean minority. This has nothing to do with the Right of Free Speech. This right cannot be used to justify propaganda of crimes against Human Rights.
National struggle and feelings must not be perverted in such a way that you believe that your own nation, your own culture or your own religion has a greater human value than others.
The Left Party of Sweden protests against these crimes against Human Rights in Iraqi Kurdistan. We do it in general terms but also because we truly wish to support the Kurdish people in its national and cultural struggle and because these crimes make it more difficult for us to gain greater support for the struggle of the Kurdish people in the country where we live and work in Sweden.
We regard it is as a matter of course that the KDP immediately release Youkhana Yalda Khaie.
We also regard it as a matter of course that the KPD authorities will treat the Human Rights of Assyrian/Chaldean minority with respect.
On behalf of the parliamentary group of the Left Party of Sweden
Murad Artin
MP, member of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs in the Swedish Parliament
Lars Ohly
MP, member of the Standing Committee
of Foreign Affairs in the Swedish Parliament
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Assyrian Awareness: Organizations Responses Archives