Kurdistan
Twa Spi villagers in Sulaimani province protest demolition of their houses after skirmishes over the issue with police led to around twelve injuries. September 21, 2021. Photo: Rudaw/screenshot
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Twelve people, including police and civilians, were injured in a village in Sulaimani province during a dispute over authorities bulldozing buildings encroaching on public land, officials and witnesses told Rudaw.
“More than 25-30 houses have been destroyed since yesterday and the day before,” Saman Ali, a representative of Twa Spi village told Rudaw’s Peshawa Bakhtyar, noting that the houses were illegally constructed, with the permits not having been completed.
Ali added that Patriotic Union Kurdistan (PUK)-affiliated police, known as the Defense and Emergency Force, were withdrawn from the area and replaced by Forest Police three days ago, who came with loaders and excavators.
Several people have been injured, including a member of local security force, known as Asayish, during the resistance to the demolition.
Sulaimani’s health directorate told Rudaw that five civilians were injured in the skirmishes.
Brigadier Hemin Kamar Khan, the head of media for Sulaimani’s forestry police, said seven of their members were injured, including the head of the directorate, who is now under surgery.
Kamar Khan said that they had been asked by the Ministry of Interior and had moved there “temporarily” on a judicial order. He noted that “a number of stores were being constructed on the street” that is public property, claiming that they were shot at and hit by civilians.
“More than 25-30 houses have been destroyed since yesterday and the day before,” Saman Ali, a representative of Twa Spi village told Rudaw’s Peshawa Bakhtyar, noting that the houses were illegally constructed, with the permits not having been completed.
Ali added that Patriotic Union Kurdistan (PUK)-affiliated police, known as the Defense and Emergency Force, were withdrawn from the area and replaced by Forest Police three days ago, who came with loaders and excavators.
Several people have been injured, including a member of local security force, known as Asayish, during the resistance to the demolition.
Sulaimani’s health directorate told Rudaw that five civilians were injured in the skirmishes.
Brigadier Hemin Kamar Khan, the head of media for Sulaimani’s forestry police, said seven of their members were injured, including the head of the directorate, who is now under surgery.
Kamar Khan said that they had been asked by the Ministry of Interior and had moved there “temporarily” on a judicial order. He noted that “a number of stores were being constructed on the street” that is public property, claiming that they were shot at and hit by civilians.
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