PKK infiltrating Iraqi party politics under Ezidi guise

By Idris Okuducu

ERBIL, Iraq (AA) - The PKK terrorist group hopes to take part in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary polls under the guise of the so-called Ezidi Democracy and Freedom Party (EDFP), Haider Shasho, the leader of a respected Ezidi party, said Thursday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Shasho -- who leads Iraq’s Democratic Ezidi Party -- confirmed that the terrorist group was continuing its military and political activities in the region.

“The notion that the [terrorist PKK] organization has entirely withdrawn from Sinjar [an Ezidi region of Nineveh province] is untrue,” he said.

“The EDFP was created by the PKK; they share the same logo, ideas and ideology,” he added.

“The [PKK] organization is trying to infiltrate Iraqi political life by exploiting the Ezidi religion and people,” Shasho asserted.

“Iraq’s central government is allowing the organization to set up a political party -- through the Ezidis -- on the pretext that any Iraqi citizen can establish a political party,” he said.

Sheikh Shamo, an Ezidi member of the Erbil-based Kurdish parliament, for his part, described the PKK as “the Ezidis’ greatest enemy”.

“It is unacceptable that those who exploit the Ezidis -- and who are, in fact, hostile to them -- have MPs in the Iraqi parliament,” Shamo said.

“This would constitute an enormous offense to the Ezidi people and cause,” he added.

The terrorist PKK, Shamo went on, “plans to maintain its presence -- under various guises -- in different parts of Iraq”.

Founded two years ago, the EDFP has nominated a number of candidates for Iraq’s parliamentary polls, which are slated for May 12.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. Its three-decade terror campaign against Turkey has cost more than 40,000 lives.