Peshmerga call for coexistence in Tuz Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Shia Turkmen in the town of Tuz Khurmatu are creating tensions that will damage the Shia population of the town, says Mahmoud Sangawi, a Peshmerga commander responsible for Garmian areas, located in the southeast of Kurdistan Region.

On Wednesday, Mahmoud Sangawi visited Peshmerga front lines in Tuz Khurmatu, located in the south of Kirkuk Province. In a statement to K24, Sangawi said that many years ago, the mayor of Tuz Khurmatu, Shalal Abdul, entrusted the protection of the town's silo to the Peshmerga forces, and Peshmerga has been stationed there for years.

He mentioned that the deployment of the Shia militia, Hashd al-Shaabi also known as Popular Mobilization Forces, to the area is unacceptable as the silo belongs to the Peshmerga who has defended it for years.

Hashd al-Shaabi militias were deployed to Tuz Khurmatu a few months ago that led to tensions and clashes between the inhabitants and the security forces.

"Hashd al-Shaabi cannot impose itself on the town, and Peshmerga will not leave Tuz Khurmatu," Sangawi said.

He stated that the militia executes people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds including Sunni Arabs and Kurds in the town. Sangawi noted that the militia kidnaps people to unknown locations for ransom. 

Since Turkmens are part of the militia, Sangawi mentioned that "the Turkmens are making problems for themselves by turning other ethnic groups of the town into their enemies," he continued, "Turkmens are the minority in Tuz Khurmatu and now Sunni Arabs have become their enemies. If Turkmens become hostile towards Kurds too, this minority might not be able to live in harmony with others in the future."

Sangawi also stated that now Turkmens cannot go outside safely. "They stay at home most of the time as the town has become their prison due to the security issues."

Regarding the existence of Hashd al-Shaabi militia in the town, Sangawi said, "We are not asking them to leave Tuz Khurmatu as some of them might be from the town, but everybody should know that Tuz Khurmatu is a Kurdish town." He concluded, "We are calling on all ethnic and religious groups of the town to accept coexistence and live in harmony."