Kurds in Toronto protest in solidarity with Kurdistan against Iraqi, Shia attacks

The Kurdish diaspora in Toronto on Sunday gathered to rally in solidarity against attacks by the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias on Kurdistan.

TORONTO, Canada (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdish diaspora in Toronto on Sunday gathered to rally in solidarity against attacks by the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias on Kurdistan.

The peaceful protest was organized by the Greater Toronto Kurdish House (GTKH), a non-partisan community group.

“We must highlight the current situation to the Canadian public and urge our municipal, provincial, and federal representatives to intervene in a diplomatic manner to halt this unprecedented aggression and violence,” a statement on the GTKH’s Facebook page read.

Chato Wany, the President of the GTKH, said the demonstrations were meant to “invite the Kurdish-Canadian public's opinion” on the recent developments in Kurdistan.

“Kurdish people have [gathered] in the streets of Toronto to uncover the dirty war that has been run by the Iraqi and Iranian government against the Kurdish people,” he told Kurdistan 24.

Demonstrators congregated in the heart of downtown Toronto at the busy Yonge and Dundas Square.

Last Tuesday, Kurds across Canada protested in front of the United States Embassy offices, calling on Washington to break its silence as Iraqi forces and Shia militias, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), continued to attack Peshmerga.

In the Canadian capital of Ottawa, the demonstrators rallied in front of the Parliament building before marching toward the US Embassy where they shouted chants of “Long live Kurdistan.”

Kurds across Canada demonstrated in front of the Canadian Parliament building before marching to the United States Embassy office, Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 24, 2017. (Photo: Kurdish Association of Canada)
Kurds across Canada demonstrated in front of the Canadian Parliament building before marching to the United States Embassy office, Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 24, 2017. (Photo: Kurdish Association of Canada)

The international community remained silent as Iraqi troops and Iranian-backed militias assailed the province of Kirkuk on Oct. 16.

The people of Kurdistan were outraged at Washington’s inaction, in particular, as the PMF took control of Kirkuk and other disputed areas using American-supplied weapons.

The multi-ethnic, oil-rich province had been under the control of Peshmerga forces since mid-2014 following the emergence of the Islamic State (IS).

The Iraqi army had notably fled their posts while the Kurdish forces remained and defended the people of Kirkuk from the militant group.