PKK-affiliate party in Shingal says ready for political cooperation with Hashd al-Shaabi

The PKK-affiliated party would welcome the presence of any Iraqi military forces in Ezidi-populated areas.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)-affiliated political group in Shingal on Wednesday said they are coordinating with the Hashd al-Shaabi forces to retake areas in southern Shingal and Iraqi border with Syria.

Qahtan Shingali, Head of the PKK-affiliated Ezidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADE), praised the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi forces for their role in retaking areas in western Mosul near the Syrian border.

Speaking to an Iraqi media agency, Shingali said the presence of Hashd al-Shaabi forces in southern Shingal does not pose any threat to the Ezidis as they are an officially recognized military force in Iraq.

He added the party would welcome the presence of any Iraqi military forces in the Ezidi-populated areas.

Shingali also expressed the readiness of the PKK-affiliated political party for cooperation with the Shia force regarding political and humanitarian matters.

According to a media agency affiliated with the PKK, the new Ezidi party was officially recognized by the Iraqi Parliament on April 30, 2017.

Shingali claimed that since the presence of the Hashd al-Shaabi in southern Shingal, several Ezidis among the Peshmerga had joined the armed group to retake the Ezidi areas and control the border areas with Syria.

Shingali previously stated the Kurdistan referendum cannot be held in Shingal because most of the people in the city are displaced to the Kurdistan Region.

“We have told the Iraqi government that we do not want the referendum to take place in Shingal now,” he stated.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany