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Amnesty International: Kurds demolish Arab homes in Kirkuk

 Amnesty International: Kurds demolish Arab homes in Kirkuk

A family standing in the middle of debris in Iraq.

A family standing in the middle of debris in Iraq.
A family standing in the middle of debris in Iraq.

(Iraqinews.com) Kirkuk – Kurdish authorities in Kirkuk are undertaking series of demolitions of Arab-owned homes in the northern Iraq province, supposedly in retaliation for an attack by Islamic State militants last month, according to Amnesty International.

“In the aftermath of a surprise ISIS attack on eight different locations across Kirkuk on 21 October, many residents say they were ordered to leave the area and had their identity cards confiscated,” said the organization.

“Among those affected are an estimated 250 families who had previously been displaced from other areas of Iraq and had sought safety and shelter in Kirkuk…At least 190 families were also forcibly displaced by Kurdish Peshmerga and Asayish forces from the Qotan and Qoshkaya villages in the Dibs district of Kirkuk Province,” The organization added.

It quoted some citizens as saying that Kurds blamed them for bringing ISIS fighters to the province and sheltering them in their homes.

The organization said the practice is a violation of international laws that dictate that displaced people should not be returned home except voluntarily.

“The authorities in Kirkuk are undeniably facing a serious security threat, but that cannot justify bulldozing people’s homes and forcibly displacing hundreds of Arab residents,” the organizations explained. “Forcibly evicting and displacing Sunni Arab residents of Kirkuk is unlawful and cruel,” Amnesty International added.

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