Turkey
The prosecutor of Diyarbakir’s (Amed) 7th criminal court demanded imprisonment in between 6-24 months against Selahattin Demirtash, the Co-leader of people’s Democratic Party (HDP). The ruling party in the country is accusing HDP Co- leader of “insulting the Turkish Republic government.” Several HDP deputies are facing smellier charges by the government after the removal of their parliamentarian immunities. Separately more Kurdish politicians have been arrested including the Co-mayor of Dicle district in Diyarbakir province.
On October 17, The Council of Europe called for restoring the immunity of members of parliament, which was infringed by an amendment. In its report, the Venice Commission says that the constitutional amendment of 12 April was “a misuse of the constitutional amendment procedure.” In the current situation in Turkey, parliamentary inviolability is an essential guarantee for the functioning of parliament; the current status in the Turkish Judiciary makes this the worst possible moment to abolish inviolability.
Syria
Durig, an official visit to Greece, Salih Muslim, the Co-president of the Democratic Union pARTY (PYD) held meetings with each of the Greek Prime Minister, Minister of Forgrin Affairs, and Minister of Interior. According to a statement by PYD the Greek sides stressed support for the Kurdish case. Muslim gave remarks during a conference of the ruling party (SYRIZA).
In results of clashes in between ISIS and Islamic rebel groups in Shahba area (Northern Aleppo) 3000 displaced people arrived at Afrin Canton. According to Rojava and Northern Syria officials, Internally Displaced People (IDP) numbers has mainly increased to Afrin due to the clashes between Turkish-backed Islamists and ISIS since August 2016. Meanwhile, Kurds in Afrin protested the Turkish incursion in the lands of Afrin.
Iraq
On October 10, Peshmerga forces and Iraqi Army have launched a campaign to liberate Mosul city from ISIS. On day one of the operation, Backed by the U.S. led coalition air power; Peshmerga forces liberated ten villages from ISIS. The current phase of the campaign focuses on pushing ISIS from east and south of the city while the west of the city offensive has not started. ISIS is preventing civilians from fleeing the city while they burned several oil fields to block the view of the coalition warplanes.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi visited Kirkuk and met with its governor Dr. Najmaldin Karim. PM Abadi and Kirkuk governor Dr. Karim visited the Peshmerga defense lines at suburbs of the city. Abadi and Kirkuk governor discussed the upcoming liberation operation of Haweja district.
Iran
According to Sharq Al-Awsat news agency, 26 Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC Members Killed in Battles with Party of Life (PJAK). Last week in a statement, the Kurdish party of PJAK sought revenge after the IRGC killed 12 of their members.