MESOP REPORT : THE PKK INVASION – Nineveh Arab Tribes Oppose PKK Participation in Mosul Assault

PKK is an illegitimate force in Iraq and should not get involved in Mosul assault, Muzahim Ahmed says – Basnews English – 16/10/2016 – Iraq – MOSUL — The Arab tribes from Nineveh province oppose the participation of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the imminent assault of liberating Mosul.Muzahim Ahmed, the spokesperson of the Nineveh Arab tribes, told BasNews on Sunday that PKK forces are illegal and should not take part in the liberation process of Mosul. He compared PKK forces to the Islamic State (IS) if they get involved in the battle of retaking Mosul.

The Iraqi government should not allow illegitimate forces to stay on the Iraqi territory, Ahmed said, asking the government to prohibit the PKK forces from participating in the liberation of Mosul.

PKK forces moved to Sinjar district following the IS attack against the district and refuse to vacate the district despite the persistent calls by the people and officials of the area for their withdrawal.

The Yezidi MP in the Kurdistan Region Parliament, Sheikh Shamo, previously revealed to BasNews that PKK forces in Sinjar planned to join Hashd al-Shaabi in the operation to liberate Mosul.

Sharing further details with BasNews, Ahmed said that they have repeatedly demanded that the Shi’ite militia Hashd al-Shaabi must be excluded in the Mosul assault, adding that only the Iraqi army, Peshmerga forces and the volunteer forces from Mosul need to take part in the process. In May, 2016, after the operation against IS in Fallujah, Human Rights Watch indicated in their research that members of Hashd al-Shaabi forces have beaten, tortured, summarily executed and forcibly displaced Arab civilians including children. Many of the displaced civilians have disappeared. www.mesop.de