Turkey’s Reaction to Barzani’s Presence in Şırnak with Armed Team
Ankara strongly reacted to the recent visit of Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq, to Turkey’s southeastern Şırnak Province, accompanied by a team of armed bodyguards.
Barzani traveled earlier this week to the Cizre district to attend a cultural meeting dedicated to a Kurdish poet. Several Turkish officials, including the Deputy Minister of Interior, were also present at the event. The release of a video showing Barzani with armed and uniformed guards during the visit sparked strong objections from Turkish authorities.
The Turkish Ministry of Interior announced that an investigation into the footage has been launched. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the statement issued by Barzani’s office as “unacceptable, provocative, and insulting,” stressing that the Iraqi side has been asked to provide explanations and take action against those involved.
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and political ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accused Barzani of turning his visit into a “show.” He characterized the presence of armed individuals in foreign uniforms on Turkish soil as a “great disgrace.”
In response, Barzani’s office issued a statement rejecting Bahçeli’s remarks as stemming from a humiliating mindset, emphasizing that all security measures during the visit were taken in accordance with official protocols agreed upon between Turkish and Iraqi authorities. The statement also referred to the “Grey Wolf” symbol of the MHP, likening Bahçeli to “an old Grey Wolf now dressed in sheep’s clothing.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan likewise condemned the remarks from Barzani’s office as “rude and unacceptable,” expressing hope that this “grave mistake” would be corrected.
