Turkish Airstrikes on Yazidis in Iraq and Syria: Keeping Justice for the Yazidis on the Agenda
20/04/2022, 3.45 PM (UK)
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Live Stream (Zoom)
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Since August 2016, Turkey has conducted, through its own armed forces and together with Turkish- backed non-State armed groups, military operations and airstrikes in and against northern Syria and northern Iraq. There are reasonable grounds to conclude that, as part of these military operations, Turkey has targeted and/or conducted indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects in northern Iraq, including against the UN-sponsored Makhmour refugee camp on 14 June 2020, 5 June 2021, 3 September 2021 and 2 February 2022, and Sikeniye Medical Clinic on 17 August 2021. There is a real and serious concern that these lethal attacks against civilians and civilian objects, which are continuing, constitute grave violations of international law and not least, international humanitarian law, and the arbitrary deprivations of the right to life, freedom from torture, and the right to an effective remedy, contrary to international human rights law.
Accountability Unit, through the support of City, University London, has filed a communication to relevant UN Special Rapporteurs on this matter together with Commissioners at relevant regional organisations.
This important and timely roundtable conference, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Yazidis, will be chaired by Brendan O’Hara MP, with contributions from Dr Ewelina Ochab, Aarif Abraham, Dr Tatyana Eatwell, Dr Aldo Zammit Borda, and Dr Leyla Ferman.
An Accountability Unit briefing paper will be provided to the APPG on the Yazidis and Parliamentarians in advance of the conference.
Dr Leyla Ferman will talk about the continuing airstrikes by Turkey in Syria and Iraq – the reasons, impacts, harm on Yazidis and their wishes for justice and accountability. Dr Aldo Zammit Borda will provide an overview about the initiative being led by Accountability Unit, his research on the Yazidi genocide, and the relevance of engaging on this issue at academic, legal and policy levels. Dr Ewelina Ochab will talk about the Yazidi genocide at the hands of ISIS and the continuing processes for accountability and justice. Dr Tatyana Eatwell and Aarif Abraham will talk about the international law engaged by actions/omissions on the part of the Turkish State and the actions being taken on behalf of the Yazidi community. Jacqueline Jahnel will provide an update on the timeline of possible violations to the conference participants. The conference Chair will be Brendan O’Hara MP.
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This event was organised by Aarif Abraham and Dr Ewelina Ochab.