DUHOK, Iraq

A senior official from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Serbest Lezgin, denounced the PKK terror group for decades of violence targeting civilians, political leaders, and Peshmerga forces.

Speaking at the funeral of Iraqi border guard Mevan Naci, killed by PKK terrorists in Zaho, Lezgin urged for an end to the group’s presence in the region.

"The PKK has oppressed our people for decades without justification," Lezgin said.

"Our leaders are consistently martyred, roads are rigged with explosives, and our Peshmerga are targeted and killed."

He emphasized the harm caused to the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR), noting that PKK attacks have severely impacted civilians, including farmers and villagers, who have been killed in their own homes.

He criticized the PKK's actions, describing them as destructive and without purpose, adding: “We don’t even know what the PKK wants or why they are here.”

“This organization, consisting of a few armed militants, has done nothing productive in 40 years,” he lamented, adding: “They bring harm to the Kurdistan Democratic Party and especially to the Badinan region."

Referring to the recent violence, Lezgin pointed out that PKK militants had killed two Peshmerga soldiers, Mevan Naci and Ali Ramazan, while they were performing their duties.

Lezgin also expressed hope for peace, saying: "We pray for God to remove this calamity (PKK) from us.”

“The suffering of our people must come to an end. Those who oppress us know they cannot continue like this,” he added.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.

*Writing by Merve Berker