Press release of the trade union FAU: Peace delegation detained in hotel, rally prevented

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[June 14, 10 a.m., Erbil] The entire peace delegation in northern Iraq is being held in its hotel today to prevent a rally and press conference in front of the UN representation in Erbil, which was promised yesterday by a government representative.

About 30 Peshmerga with assault rifles are keeping the 60-strong peace delegation in northern Iraq in their hotel. Only yesterday, the delegation met with the foreign minister of the Autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region (PDK) who promised the rally could take place. Currently, the detention seems to be relaxed, but all demonstrations are still banned. Other delegates are currently in custody.

Wolf Meyer, member of the international committee of the FAU: “The current actions of the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan are unworthy of official international relations and are reminiscent not of a civil democracy but of a Turkish dictatorship. We are being arrested, deported, detained – with support and acquiescence of the German government. We demand all prisoners be released, the right to demonstrate and that joint agreements be respected. We ask all trade unions to find clear words for the current situation in Erbil.”

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