The issue of the presence of about 20 Turkish military and intelligence bases on Iraqi soil, especially in Kurdistan Region, and the constant bombardment of Kurdish border regions by Turkish warplanes and artillery, which has killed and wounded scores of civilians and has made essential economic losses to the residents in the area, have provoked strong civil society protests against the moves.
The protests are mostly against Erbil and Baghdad's silence over what many call as Turkish occupation policy in Iraq.
Rajab, the head of New Generation Fraction and a member of the Human Rights Commission in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, answered Kurdpress questins in this regard.
What follows are her answers to Kurdpress questions;
The Kurdish border regions of Iraq are constantly been bombed and shelled by Turkish army, while there are criticisms against the central government and the KRG government's silence towards these actions. What is your assessment of the matter and why are Baghdad and Erbil silent against Ankara?
Yousra Rajab: We ask the question from the federal Iraqi government that why it has remained silent. Is there any political agreement between the two governments? Baghdad has rejected any agreement on the matter. The reason behind the issue and the silence of the Iraqi government against Turkey is the weakness of the Iraqi capital and its leaders and authorities. We witness other countries also violate Iraqi sovereignty, and the violation that Turkey does against the Kurdish region is due to the weakness of the Iraqi government.
Kurdpress: What is the responsibility of the Kurdish region against any Turkey violation of Iraq's sovereignty and its constant bombardment?
Yosra Rajab: The responsibility goes to the coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government of Iraq. Border security is one of the tasks and responsibilities of the central government as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government, but the main reponsibility goes to Baghdad. The silence of these two governments raises questions. Why should Iraqi sovereignty, human rights, and Iraqi land and air space be violated. All of these things are questionable.
Kurdpress: The Kurdistan Regional Government blames the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for its presence in the region and its border areas, what is your viewpoint in this regard?
Yousra Rajab: The central government in Iraq denies the presence of such a force on its soil, but I do not know how the KRG will take such a charge. On one hand, based on a 2003 agreement maintaining and securing the disputed regions is the responsibility of the KRG, so it shows that Erbil is responsible to provide the security of the areas. On the other hand, it is well known that Turkey is still following Ottoman Empire goals. There is no PKK force in Libya but Turkey has deployed forces to te war-torn country; so Turkey claims are baseless. That is, if the Kurdistan Regional Government accepts the PKK presence on its soil, it is nothing but acknowledging its weakness.
Kurdpress: The Iraqi Parliament approved in a meeting boycotted by Kurdish and Sunni representatives on January 5, 2020 a non-binding law to make US forces to withdraw from Iraqi territory. First of all, what was the reason behind the boycott of the session by the representatives, and on the other hand, how do you think this vote will affect the Kurdish region, especially in the wake of Turkish military presence in the region?
Yousra Rajab: We agree with the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraqi soil. This means that there is no difference between the foreign forces in Iraqi soil and all foreign forces should be withdrawn.

The Iraqi Parliament session widely addressed American side and asked for the withdrawal of the country's troops from Iraq, while I personally emphasized that all foreign forces should be dismissed from Iraq. Iraq has a security agreement with the U.S. and it would have been very helpful and needed for Iraq, especially in confronting the IS. What is seen as surprising and questioning is that the representatives who are seeking for the withdrawal of US military personnel from Iraq made no comments about the Turkish military presence and Turkey's occupation of the Kurdistan region, while no agreement has been reached between the Iraqi central government and the Turkish government. We asked the Iraqi government whether Turkey's military presence in the Kurdish region was in line with the agreement with Baghdad and that they replied: "No" there is no such agreement.
Reporter's code: 50101