To support the cause of Tunisian and Egyptian protestors, on February 17, 2011, hundreds of people in Sulaimani started a protest. According to one dissident participant of the demonstration, who was the first victim of the shootings, the violence started out when some stones were thrown into the mob from the KDP 24^th headquarter. This made people even angrier at the 20-year authoritarian rule of KDP and PUK, lack of basic service, unemployment, nepotism and depriving people from their fundamental rights. As a result, the hungry and jobless protestors reacted to the stone throwers inside the KDP headquarter, but the gun holders and guards, as it appears on the video, fired the demonstrators with live bullets, which killed the 14-year old Rezhwan, who was a student, and according to the news another young protestor, Surkew Zahir Muhammad, who was also shot there, died in the hospital.  We, from the Children Protection Center in Iraq, send our sincere condolence to the victims’ families of Rezhwan, Surkew, Sherzad and the rest of their student friends. Meanwhile, we severely condemn the brutal behavior of the militia forces of KDP and PUK for their immoral response to the protestors with bullets, the government’s ignorance to answer the demands of the people and the use of violence. We find ourselves as supporters and devotees of protecting the rights of the people of Kurdistan and youth demands for providing their basic necessities of life, work, food, freedom, and other services of all Kurdish citizens, especially the youth’s.

 

Success for the rightful endeavor of the youth and people of Kurdistan

Shame for those who answer the demands of people with bullets

Children Protection Center in Iraq