PKK-military wing in Shingal, Hashd al-Shaabi visit Tehran

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Representatives of the military wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Sinjar, the Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi, and Iraqi officials visited Iran on Tuesday, calling on authorities to support the effort to make Sinjar (Shingal) a new province.

Sinjar Resistance Unit (YBS), PKK’s military wing based in the Ezidi-populated city of Sinjar, and Hashd al-Shaabi, alongside a delegation from the Iraqi government consisting of representatives of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, met Iranian officials in Tehran.

The joint groups met with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, and asked for the Iranian government's support.

Velayati, in a press conference following the meeting, confirmed Iranian support to these groups, stating that, “The meeting emphasized their [YBS] cooperation with the Hashd al-Shaabi and they have good contact with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi.”

Vian Dakhil, a Kurdish Ezidi MP in the Iraqi parliament told Kurdistan24 that the delegation is not familiar with the Iraqi laws and constitution, and they do not represent Kurds.

“We are surprised about the visit, because it is not an Iranian affair to make Shingal a new province. What we do not know is the main agenda of the visit,” Dakhil told Kurdistan24.

“The Ezidi people in the joint delegation do not represent the entire Ezidi community,” Dakhil added, pointing out that the groups need to discuss their concerns and demands with Erbil and Baghdad.

The Ezidi MP thanked PKK and its military forces in Shingal for their sacrifices but called on all the group to withdraw from Shingal to avoid further tension escalation.

She added the presence of the military group would lead to political disputes as well as social problems in the Ezidi community.

Hussein Qasim Hassoun an adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister also said that the delegation does not represent the Ezidi community.

The Islamic State (IS) invaded Sinjar in August 2014 and killed and kidnapped countless thousand Ezidis. 

Editing by Ava Homa