“People’s houses have been burned down. They have suffered aggression. We view that by all means as a huge catastrophe and are holding the Iraqi forces responsible for that,” he told reporters at a press conference on Monday following a government cabinet session.
“We are urging the international community to take this matter seriously,” he said, criticizing global inaction on the reported violence in the ethnically diverse town.
The Council of Ministers has formed a committee to assess the violations committed in the town.
“We never expected that after the war against ISIS, nearly 180,000 people would be displaced at the hands of Iraqi forces. And the Iraqi forces themselves become a factor to displace all these people,” Barzani said.
Kurds fled Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu in several waves of displacement after Iraqi forces and Shiite militias moved in. According to UN figures, 172,000 people have since returned home, but more than 181,000 remain displaced. The UN has noted that there have been no significant returns to Tuz Khurmatu.
Kurds who fled the city fear violence after their homes and businesses were targeted by Shiite militias.
Barzani urged the Iraqi government to do its part by forming an investigative committee “as soon as possible.”
The KRG leader asked for the compensation for those affected by the violence and for the people to be able to return home with honour and guarantees.
Hundreds of displaced persons from Tuz Khurmatu staged a demonstration in the city of Kalar on Sunday calling for the restoration of security in their hometown and urging authorities to pull Iran-backed Shiite militias out of the area who are blamed for killing, displacing and burning Kurdish houses.
Pledging that his government was determined to fight for women’s rights and provide a safe and equal environment for them in society, Barzani said they would follow up on cases of violations and abuses against the women of Kirkuk and other disputed areas.
“Violations were done against people and particularly women after the attacks of the Hashd al-Shaabi. The Kurdistan Region will follow up on the violations and is asking the international community to help us in this matter.”
Iraqi forces and Shiite militias took control of Tuz Khurmatu and other disputed areas in October, forcing many, mainly Kurds, from their homes.
Fuad Masum, president of Iraq, pledged in Sulaimani on Saturday to resolve tensions in Tuz Khurmatu.
Rudaw’s war correspondent Hunar Ahmad and cameraman Mohammed Jawhar documented widespread destruction in the ethnically diverse town – the first investigative report by Kurdish media since the town fell to Iraqi forces and Shiite militia on October 16.
