Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris left 120 people dead and over 200 injured. Across the world, Kurds and Kurdish political leaders took to various media outlets to offer condolences on behalf of the Kurdish people.
Nechirvan Barzani
In a message of condolence, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said he was deeply saddened by the Paris attacks, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will stand by France in fighting terrorism.
It is with great sadness that I learned of the horrific attacks on the people of Paris. I offer the deepest condolences, and the strongest solidarity, of the people of the Kurdistan Region. France has stood resolutely with the Kurdistan Region in our own struggle against terrorism, and we will stand with them in theirs.”
Erbil, this evening – Nechirvan Barzani in French General Consulate to show solidarity with France. pic.twitter.com/rRAIuEpZyL
— Sami Ergoshi (@SamiErgoshi) November 14, 2015
Barzani went on to address the universal struggle against intolerance, and the importance of a strengthened resolve.
The challenge of defeating this threat unites so many nations and peoples around the world. It is a struggle between civilization and intolerance and barbarism. Attacks like this are designed to spread fear, but the international community must instead respond with a strengthened resolve. Indeed, this tragedy came one day after a great defeat for Daesh in Sinjar. Terrorism can, and will, be defeated.”
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to the United States Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman offered kind words to Paris in the eloquent tweet below:
Beautiful #Paris, city of light, you and your people will always shine. The people of #Kurdistan are with you. Justice will prevail — Bayan Sami Rahman (@BayanRahman) November 14, 2015
Massoud Barzani
Masoud Barzani sent condolences to French President François Hollande, and sent the following tweet:
I was deeply saddened by terror attacks in Paris. Our condolences to French people. Kurdistan stand in solidarity with the French people. — Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) November 14, 2015
Barzani continued in a statement,
The terrorists are our common enemy, they are against any human values and if they see progress and stability they attack it. Kurdish people, currently facing the war against Islamic State, stand with France and fully support the French government.”
Selahattin Demirtas
Selahattin Demirtas, co-leader of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition People’s Democracy Party (HDP), said the Paris attacks were a result of the world’s failure to deal with Islamic State (ISIL).
The world, including Turkey, has not undertaken an effective, coordinated effort against ISIL. Just the opposite, everyone used ISIL, or elements within it, for their own interests.”
[…] the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, the world has woken up to the threat that the ‘self-proclaimed Islamic State’ poses to the […]