Ministry of Peshmerga calls upon PKK to release Swedish Peshmerga volunteer
A Swedish volunteer among the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces has been kidnapped by a Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliated armed group in Sinjar (Shingal).
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Swedish volunteer among the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces has been kidnapped by a Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) affiliated armed group in Sinjar (Shingal).
According to a Monday report by Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, a Swedish volunteer among the Peshmerga forces was abducted by Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), an armed group affiliated with the PKK in the area.
Tony Ekman, a 51-year-old Swedish citizen, had been in the Kurdistan Region to fight the Islamic State (IS) extremists along with the Peshmerga forces for over a year-and-a-half.
The volunteer participated in several Peshmerga battles, including the liberation of Shingal.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Peshmerga at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) called upon the PKK to release the “kidnapped” Swedish Peshmerga volunteer.
“It has been a while since Peshmerga volunteer Tony Ekman, still held captive, was kidnapped by an armed group affiliated to the PKK,” the statement said.
Additionally, the report noted Tony had fought alongside the Peshmerga forces in the Kirkuk and Shingal areas.
The Ministry of Peshmerga expressed concerns over the abduction of the Peshmerga volunteer and hoped the PKK-affiliated group would release him as soon as possible, according to the statement.
Moreover, speaking to Aftonbladet, Ekman’s brother said his family was worried about the situation of the Swedish volunteer.
He also revealed his brother had been imprisoned by the YBS forces in Shingal, adding Ekman had joined the Peshmerga to support Kurds in the fight against IS extremists.
Meanwhile, a source from the PKK who spoke to Kurdistan24 on the condition of anonymity said the PKK was allegedly preparing a video where Ekman would be pressured to refute accusations about his imprisonment.
Recent tensions between the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces and YBS units have resulted in clashes in the Shingal area.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
