The demonstration that was scheduled today, April 7, in
Erbil, the capital city of the Kurdistan Regional Government, was
postponed. The organizers of the
demonstration have applied many times for permission to demonstrate but they
have been denied each time. They
have decided to follow through on the legal process, which is to appeal to the
courts.
…
An Announcement by the Organizers of the Demonstrations on Thursday
Regarding the Response by the Governor of Erbil
In multiple attempts,
numerous requests [were] directed to the governorate of Erbil—by influential
members of different sectors of the Kurdish society who respect the rule of law—[for]
a civil gathering. The main
objective of the gathering would be attempting to solve the current [issues]
plaguing the Kurdish society through peaceful and civil means. It would also aim at loosening the
uneasiness in Erbil and its residents and [opening] doors of dialogue between
the government and the people, which is in our best national interest. But unfortunately the [credibility] of
the promises by the president of the region came under serious question when
the authorities disenfranchised us from our rights to demonstrate and free
speech. Through that decision, not
only were the rights and freedoms of people violated but also the promises of
the president of the region were broken by his own party officials. The refusal to allow us the right to
practice our freedom of speech and demonstration by the authorities in Erbil
has angered the vast majority of the people in the city.…