Turkish parliament extends mandate for military offensive in Iraq and Syria

The Turkish parliament has passed a bill to extend the military’s authorisation for cross-border military attacks in Syria and Iraq for another two years. The extension of the authorisation granted to the president in 2021 for cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria for a further two years is a parliamentary endorsement of the current authority of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“It is essential for Turkey’s national security to take the necessary measures in line with the rights arising from international law against all kinds of risks, threats and actions that may pose a danger to Turkey’s national security,” says the motion signed by Erdogan. The motion also states that Turkey would welcome the deployment of foreign troops on its territory for the purpose of fighting terrorist groups within the framework of conditions determined by the president.

Declaration of war on Kurds

After discussions in parliament, the resolution was put to a vote and passed with the votes of AKP-MHP, IYI Party, Felicity Party, Future Party and Deva Party deputies. HEDEP and CHP voted against the motion. Thus, 357 deputies voted “yes” and 164 deputies voted “no”. Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the CHP, had said that the reason for rejecting the parliamentary motion was that they did not want foreign troops in Turkey.

HEDEP MP Dilan Kunt Ayan said during the debate on the motion: “Those who received this instruction have already started a witch-hunt against the Kurds from Rojava. Last week, 36 Kurds from Rojava, who have been living as refugees in Turkey for years, were first detained under fabricated pretexts and then ‘deported’ without any decision. When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, those who talk about human rights by saying ‘what is the fault of innocent civilians’ continue their hostile policy when it comes to the Kurds, whether civilians or refugees. Calling for peace on the one hand and voting for a declaration of war today is the biggest hypocrisy. We will not accept the declaration of war.”

Turkish war crimes pile up

HEDEP MP Perihan Koca added these words: “Today, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called Israel an ‘occupier’ and said: ‘Seizing someone’s land and house and throwing them out is theft.’ Well, doesn’t the same apply to Rojava? Have civilians not been massacred in Rojava? Have civilians not been massacred in Afrin? Palestine, Syria, Libya, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine; there is war everywhere and the blood of people is always shed. You are complicit in the bloodshed and occupation in Rojava, Artsakh, Erbil, your war crimes are piling up. But enough is enough”. HEDEP MP Kamuran Tanhan said that the extension of the mandate was a decision to create hell and stressed that the politicians who voted in favor of the motion should first go to the frontline themselves.