'Barzani has spread terror in northern Iraq for 20 years, killed hundreds'

With the liberties provided by the United States, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani has spread terror in northern Iraq for 20 years, killed hundreds of civilians, former Iraqi Member of Parliament Fayha Bayatli said. She said there are still many unsolved cases and that Barzani is responsible for various violations of human rights.

Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, Bayatli said that Barzani, following the illegitimate independence referendum held on Sept. 25 in the KRG, is now trying to reduce the effects of his defeat that occurred due to his own domestic and foreign policy.

“Barzani will not give up his greed for power and a pirate state, and he will end as in the case with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein if he continues like this,” according to the Iraqi lawmaker.

Barzani announced Sunday that he will not participate in the upcoming Nov. 1 presidential elections, after he became a “persona non grata” in the region when the independence vote backfired and triggered a regional crisis.

Regarding the violations of human rights that Barzani has committed since 2005, Bayatli said that hundreds of civilians in Turkmen regions such as Kirkuk, Hawija, Bashir and Tuz Khormato, who were taken from their homes by Peshmerga forces, have not been heard from since then. “Some of them were ransomed by the Peshmerga. Almost all Turkmen and Arab families had the same issue. Businesses were seized for arbitrary reasons or they were allowed to resume their activities after paying racket.”

Bayatli noted that Barzani decided to freeze the illegal referendum as a result of the strategies of his foreign supporters so that he could recover from shock.

“This [Barzani] family will not give up the empire they established. He might appoint his son-in-law and nephew Nechirvan Barzani as the president for a while but Barzani will be sustaining control. Barzani should not be given the chance to recover and serve the invaders by dividing the region.”

She pointed out that the dark period that lasted for 20 years with the Peshmerga’s law due to lack of any authority should be accounted by the Iraqi parliament. “There are over 700 persecuted families, and we are trying to ensure that all of them are heard and that the necessary steps are taken. Turkey should provide support and whoever is responsible must be held accountable,” she concluded.