Kurdistan Security Council urges demonstrators to avoid violence, maintain unity

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) on Wednesday called on demonstrators in Sulaimani and Halabja provinces not to abuse their legitimate demands by burning public properties.

In a statement on the riots in the provinces of Sulaimani, Halabja, and the Garmiyan Administration, the KRSC asked demonstrators to avoid the destruction of public properties.

On Monday, scores of people launched protests in various cities and towns in the Sulaimani and Halabja provinces against the delay of salaries and lack of public services in the Kurdistan Region.

However, the rallies quickly turned violent as protestors set fire to political party buildings and government offices in the area.

The KRSC stated that “civilized and peaceful demonstrations are the people’s right,” but the recent events did not demonstrate a peaceful protest.

The Security Council called on those involved not to “mix up their legitimate demands with political, suspicious internal, and regional agendas.”

The KRSC also urged protestors “to remain united to pass this stage,” adding that “this demonstration should have been against Baghdad’s punitive measures and policies of starving the people of the Kurdistan Region.”

“The current situation is a dangerous trap that targets the social and political system in the Region,” the KRSC statement added.

The Security Council asked demonstrators to take into consideration the current sensitive stage and not allow some people “to use their demands [as an excuse] to attack public properties.”

The KRSC also stated the Region’s security institutions should take responsibility in protecting the people and public properties as well as maintaining the security and stability of Kurdistan.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany