PYD security disturbs the repatriation of a fallen Rojava Peshmerga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The security forces (Asayish) of Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) disturbed mourners who were repatriating the body of a fallen Rojava Peshmerga, a Kurdistan24 reporter said on Monday.

On Sunday, following the Peshmerga offensive on the Islamic State (IS) in southeast Mosul, three Rojava Peshmerga soldiers lost their lives.

According to a Kurdistan24 reporter, the Peshmerga’s body was being transferred to Rojava to be buried but security forces initially stopped the mourners.

At the border of Peshabur between the Kurdistan Region and Rojava, Asayish forces belonging to the Democratic Union Party (PYD)-led administration of Rojava prevented the body to be returned, but later allowed the family and relative of the Peshmerga to bury him in Qamishlo.

The Kurdistan24 reporter also mentioned that the PYD Asayish had opened fire on the people who were trying to carry the body of the Peshmerga into Rojava.

Additionally, the Asayish reportedly asked the family of the Peshmerga to "return where they came from [the Kurdistan Region]," and also arrested those waiting to receive the body for burial.

There are over five thousand Rojava Peshmerga soldiers that have been trained in Kurdistan Region and now fight hand in hand with the Region's Peshmerga forces against Islamic State (IS). The Rojava Peshmerga consist of both genders.

PYD-led security had prevented the unit from returning to Rojava and helping the Kurdish-led YPG and YPJ fighters in combating the jihadists.

The PYD accuses them of being spies for the Region while Rojava Peshmerga denies the accusations.

The Rojava Peshmerga had stated before that together with YPG and YPJ they can accelerate the process of eradicating IS in Rojava and northern Syria.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa