The former prime minister of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region hailed the gains made by the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in the Turkish elections as “a milestone for Kurdish people”.
The Kurdish party has for the first time won enough votes to enter the Turkish parliament and is being hailed as a watershed moment in Turkish politics.
Barham Salih, the former premier of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, said “not long ago, Kurds were officially nonexistent, at best identified as mountain Turks”. “After decades of denial and persecution, the time for the Kurds has arrived,” he added.
The victory comes as HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas accusedthe government of having links to the violence that erupted across Kurdish regions this week.
Relations have remained strained with the Turkish government, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accusing Western nations of backing the Kurdish “terrorists”, whilst bombing Turkmen and Arabs in Syria.
"The West, which has shot Arabs and Turkmens, is unfortunately placing the PYD (the political wing of the YPG) and PKK in lieu of them," said Mr Erdogan in a speech.
The speech was criticised by Kobani official Idris Nassan who said "It's not true to say the YPG are terrorists because they haven't committed any terrorist actions against people in Syria”. Kobani has been the site of fierce fighting between Kurdish forces and Islamic State. “They (Kurdish forces) are protecting Muslims, Christians, Jews," said Mr Nassan.
The continued battles in Kobani have seen the death of US citizen Keith Broomfield this month, with Kurds lining the street as his body was carried through a village this week. "We announce his death in great sadness and commemorate his enthusiasm and his valuable comradeship", said the YPG, in a statement marking the death of the 37-year-old. He was killed fighting with Kurdish forces in Kobani on June 2.
In a video released by the YPG, Mr Broomfield said he came to fight as he wanted "to do whatever I can to help Kurdistan."
"It seems like the right thing to do," he added.
The Kurdish party has for the first time won enough votes to enter the Turkish parliament and is being hailed as a watershed moment in Turkish politics.
Barham Salih, the former premier of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, said “not long ago, Kurds were officially nonexistent, at best identified as mountain Turks”. “After decades of denial and persecution, the time for the Kurds has arrived,” he added.
The victory comes as HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas accusedthe government of having links to the violence that erupted across Kurdish regions this week.
Relations have remained strained with the Turkish government, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accusing Western nations of backing the Kurdish “terrorists”, whilst bombing Turkmen and Arabs in Syria.
"The West, which has shot Arabs and Turkmens, is unfortunately placing the PYD (the political wing of the YPG) and PKK in lieu of them," said Mr Erdogan in a speech.
The speech was criticised by Kobani official Idris Nassan who said "It's not true to say the YPG are terrorists because they haven't committed any terrorist actions against people in Syria”. Kobani has been the site of fierce fighting between Kurdish forces and Islamic State. “They (Kurdish forces) are protecting Muslims, Christians, Jews," said Mr Nassan.
The continued battles in Kobani have seen the death of US citizen Keith Broomfield this month, with Kurds lining the street as his body was carried through a village this week. "We announce his death in great sadness and commemorate his enthusiasm and his valuable comradeship", said the YPG, in a statement marking the death of the 37-year-old. He was killed fighting with Kurdish forces in Kobani on June 2.
In a video released by the YPG, Mr Broomfield said he came to fight as he wanted "to do whatever I can to help Kurdistan."
"It seems like the right thing to do," he added.