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Iran
- The Iranian regime’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi expressed rejection to Iraqi Kurdistan’s Independence Referendum by saying it “can only lead to new problems.” In March of 2017, Iran’s regime also rejected the rise of the flag of Kurdistan in the disputed province of Kirkuk. By rejecting the Independence Referendum, Iran’s regime joined Turkey on the same issue.
- The border guards of Iran’s regime burned a large area covered with trees in two Kurdish villages of Zal and Choman in Baneh city. The Iranian guards burned around 5 acres of land; locals reacted in anger and protests.
Iraq
- On June 7, after meeting with the majority of the political parties, the Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani announced the date of the Independence Referendum. The Independence Referendum will be held on September 25, 2017, and it will include the questions whether Kurdistan regions of Iraq should remain with Iraq or it should be an independent state. The Change Party (Gorran) and the Islamic Group (Komal) didn’t join the meeting with Barzani, demanding the reactivation of the parliament in order to take part of the referendum committee. The talk among the Kurdish parties continued in an attempt to bring the two parties to the committee. In the meeting, the political parties in Kurdistan also set November 7, 2017, to hold the parliamentary elections.
Syria
- Since the start of the final battle last week to liberate Raqqa from ISIS, the Syrian Democratic Forces backed by the U.S. led coalition entered several neighborhoods in the city. The Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, Brett McGurck said “SDF forces [are] with Coalition support making steady gains towards the center of Raqqa. Strong footholds [are] now inside the city from north, west, & east.” After liberating al-Sina’a and Huteen neighborhoods, the SDF rescued families. During the recent clashes, the SDF with air support from the U.S., announced the death of 38 ISIS fighters and seizing light and heavy weapons.
- In an interview, SDF commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Abu Khoula said that after Raqqa operation is the “preparation for Deir ez-Zor liberation”. Abu Khoula Emphasized that they will be with the SDF to liberate Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor which remains under ISIS. The Deir ez-Zor Military Council joined the SDF to liberate Raqqa during the second phase of the operation.
- On June 10, a delegation from the Syria’s opposition groups of Syria’s Tomorrow Movement and National Renewal Movement reached Northern Syria and held meetings with the Kurdish officials there. During their first official visit, the opposition groups held meetings with members of the Kurdish Movement for a Democratic Society. Future of Syria cooperation between Kurdish movements with the opposition was discussed at the meetings.
- After launching attacks against the Kurdish city of Afrin in the west of Syria, the People’s Defense Units (YPG) clashed with Al Qaeda affiliates of Jabhat Fateh al Sham. The clashes occurred in Basofan village in the Sherawa district in Afrin. According to news reports, 28 members of the Pro-Al Qaeda group were killed.
Turkey
- The Turkish police detained two Kurdish lawmakers who are members of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP). Batman Province lawmaker Mehmet Ali was detained at the airport of Batman city while trying to travel to Ankara. Istanbul lawmaker Pervin Buldan as detained in Diyarbakir at a hotel where she was staying during her visit. Both lawmakers have been detained before as 12 more HDP lawmakers are jailed including the Co-chairs of HDP.
- The Turkish government sentenced the Cartoonist Melih Gurler to ten months in prison after he wrote a letter to the jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtash. The prosecutor accused the Cartoonist of allegedly “Insulting the Minister of Justice.” After firing the Kurdish Mayor from Kiziltepe district in Mardin Province last November, the appointed trustee of the Turkish government removed a famous Kurdish statue in the center of town. The statue resembled a Kurdish 12-year-old Ugur Kaymaz who was killed with his father in police crossfire at his home in 2004.