I am reaching out to you today with a heavy heart and a plea for your attention and support. The Kurdish population of Iraqi Kurdistan has endured a long history of unimaginable suffering, human rights abuses, and systemic oppression that must no longer go unnoticed.

For far too long, the Kurdish people have faced forced displacement, the destruction of their land and property, cultural oppression, and unspeakable violence. They have been victimized by both the actions and policies of the Iraqi government, as well as the relentless attacks from Iranian-backed militias and the ruthless ISIS terrorist organization.

Embedded in the fabric of Iraqi history, the Kurdish identity has consistently clashed with the national interests of the Iraqi state. The discriminatory constitution of the Ba'ath Party explicitly declared that the Arab homeland belonged solely to Arabs, disregarding the existence and rights of the Kurdish population residing in Iraqi Kurdistan. This distorted perspective deemed anyone opposing this notion as a threat to the nationalist project and subjected them to removal and displacement.

Under the guise of "Arabisation" (ta'rib), the Iraqi government implemented policies aimed at resettling Kurdish areas with Arab settlers. This unjust practice was not limited to Kurds alone but also targeted other minority ethnic groups, including Turkmens and Assyrians, further exacerbating the cycle of discrimination and hardship.

Throughout the oil-producing regions of Iraq, the forced displacement of ethnic minorities, particularly Kurds, has remained a constant issue since the 1930s. The Ba'athist regime, spanning over 50 years, forcibly displaced an estimated 250,000 Kurds from Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu, Khanaqin, and Mosul. Kurdish villages were ruthlessly bulldozed to make way for Arab settlements, and a staggering 46 Kurdish and Yazidi villages were forcibly Arabised in the 1970s.

The darkest chapter in this tragic narrative unfolded during the Anfal campaign from February to September 1988. Under the orders of Saddam Hussein, this campaign unleashed a horrifying wave of ground attacks, airstrikes, chemical warfare, mass deportation, firing squads, and the complete destruction of towns and villages. Tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians lost their lives, with countless others disappearing without a trace. Approximately 4,500 Kurdish villages were annihilated, leaving communities shattered and families torn apart. The scars of this armed conflict ensured that displaced Kurds remained permanently uprooted, forever haunted by the atrocities they witnessed.

Allow me to share a firsthand account from a displaced person from Tuz Khurmatu: "On the 8th of March, 1991, I took part in the Kurdish Revolution against Saddam Hussein. On the 12th of March, Saddam attacked with all kinds of weapons. At that time, I saw many people murdered by helicopters. 50 meters away from me, I watched a woman and her baby be killed. After that, I left the town and when we returned, our house had been blown up."

In the aftermath of these atrocities, Saddam Hussein's regime repopulated the captured areas with Arab settlers, offering them free land and assistance while invalidating the property deeds of displaced Kurds. The nationalization of agricultural lands further deepened the injustice, as these lands were distributed to Arab settlers. The displacement and marginalization of Kurds reached another tragic peak during the uprisings that followed the end of the Gulf War in 1991. Over a million civilians, predominantly Kurds, were forced to flee to neighboring countries or to the safety of Kurdish-controlled areas in the mountains. Although some displaced Kurds were able to return to their destroyed villages, the disputed territories remained under the control of Iraqi forces, denying them the right to reclaim their homes.

The years that followed witnessed a series of political and constitutional developments aimed at addressing the plight of the Kurds. The Transitional Administrative Law of 2005 and subsequent agreements promised the return and compensation of forced migrants, the resolution of disputed territories, and the restoration of Kurdish rights. However, these promises have largely gone unfulfilled, leaving the Kurdish people in a state of perpetual uncertainty and vulnerability.

In 2014, as ISIS gained strength in Iraq, Kurdish forces, known as Peshmerga, bravely stood their ground to protect the disputed areas from the advancing terrorist group. Kurdish casualties in this fight numbered in the thousands, as they valiantly defended their land and people. However, their efforts were met with further disappointment and betrayal. The independence referendum held by the Kurdistan region in 2017 prompted a violent response from the Iraqi government, which deployed its army and Iranian-backed militias to reclaim the disputed territories and seize control of oil fields. Kurdish civilians in Kirkuk and other cities were targeted, resulting in massacres and forced displacements. Once again, the Iraqi government sought to alter the ethnic demographics of these cities, removing Kurdish symbols and renaming streets and towns in Arabic. Kurdish farmers were expelled from their lands, only to witness them being handed over to Arab settlers.

Today, the situation in Iraqi Kurdistan remains dire. Kurdish officials have been systematically removed from positions of power, voting demographics have been manipulated, and Kurdish land continues to face confiscation attempts. The Kurdish people are in desperate need of international support and solidarity to shed light on their plight and demand justice.

I implore you, as a respected advocate for human rights and justice, to lend your voice and influence to the cause of the Kurdish people. Help us raise global awareness of the heartbreaking injustices they face on a daily basis. By uniting our efforts, we can pressure governments and international bodies to take immediate action, hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities committed against the Kurdish population, and support initiatives that promote the rights, dignity, and self-determination of the Kurdish people.

We cannot remain silent. It is our duty to join together, sign this petition, and take action. Let us reach out to our congressmen, congresswomen, senators, and the president to express our unwavering support for the Kurds and Kurdistan. Together, we can make a difference. Share this petition with your loved ones, and let us create a heartwarming movement that embraces the strength and resilience of the Kurdish people.

Together, let us stand against injustice, discrimination, and the violation of human rights. Together, let us stand with Kurdistan.

Yours sincerely,

Jihan Brifki