21/2/11

Kurdistan Regional Government office in London being blockaded in protest at killing of protesters in Iraqi Kurdistan

The London offices of the Kurdistan Regional Government are being blockaded by over 80 people in protest at the killing by security forces of nine people demonstrating for greater freedom and jobs in the Kurdistan region of northernIraq.

There will be a mass rally at the KRG offices up to 2pm, when there will be a march to Downing Street.

Nine people were killed and 47 seriously injured by militia forces of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party on 17th February as they were demonstrating in response to the protests in Tunisia and Egypt.

Protests have since spread across Iraqi Kurdistan as people call for increased freedom and civil liberties, jobs and an end to political corruption. The ruling parties have responded to this by increasing the presence of armed militia in cities and shooting on more demonstrators and arresting activists.

In London, people from different Kurdish organisations have come together under the name of ‘Freedom Umbrella’, to demand an end to the violence, the immediate withdrawal of all militia forces from Kurdistan and that the people responsible for shooting the protestors be brought to justice.  

Dashty Jamal of Freedom Umbrella says:

“people in Kurdistan are fed up with 20 years of military dictatorship. There is rising unemployment, the government has no respect for women’s rights, workers’ rights of people’s freedom so people are angry. The British and US Government want to present the KRG as a success to legitimize their wars, but here is the reality.”

The address of the KRG office in London is:

8th Floor, Winchester House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road NW1 5RA Edgware Road Tube and march to Downing St.

For more details or to arrange interviews call 07856032991 or 07821349087

Follow on Twitter @CSDIraq

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