Family mourns protester killed in Chamchamal

CHAMCHAMAL, Kurdistan Region — The family of Adham Yahya, killed during protests in Chamchamal on Monday, has told Rudaw of their grief and anger at his death. 

Yahya, a 26-year-old shepherd, was walking home from the bazaar when he was shot in the chest during protests in Sulaimani's Chamchamal on Monday. He later died in hospital. 

"They have destroyed our lives," his mother Rezan Aziz said on Tuesday. 

"Why should my son be killed arbitrarily? Do not deprive people of their children for the sake of your own pockets," she added. 

Protests calling for civil servants to be paid after months of delays broke out last week in Sulaimani city, before being repressed by water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets at the weekend. Demonstrations spread to other towns in the province, as well as in Halabja province and the Garmiyan administration. 

At least seven protesters and one Peshmerga have been reported killed since the protests began. 

"He is not first nor the last person to be killed. Mothers are left grieving every year," said Yahya's brother Halo. 

Yahya was killed 300 metres away from the town's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) office. 

The co-chair of the office said joint forces "opened fire" at protesters to disperse the crowds.

"There were joint defence forces at the headquarters, not only the KDP," said Yusif Anwar, deputy chairman of the KDP's Chamchamal office.  

Transition and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed