Ankara Angered by Barzani’s Armed Entourage During Turkey Visit
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Turkey is seeking explanations after Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq, was seen accompanied by uniformed, armed guards during a recent visit to a Kurdish-majority border region in Turkey. The visit has triggered a diplomatic row, with Turkish officials deeming the situation unacceptable.
Barzani’s trip to the Cizre area of Şırnak province in southeastern Turkey was to attend a meeting about a Kurdish poet, which was also attended by Turkish officials, including a deputy minister. Barzani, who served as President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from 2005 to 2017, remains a prominent political figure in the region.
The controversy stems from a video showing Barzani’s armed security detail, which Ankara views as an affront to Turkish sovereignty, questioning Turkey’s ability to ensure the safety of foreign guests on its own soil. Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a political ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accused Barzani of turning the visit into a spectacle. He stated that it was disgraceful to see individuals with foreign uniforms and long-range weapons moving freely within Turkish territory.
In response, Barzani’s office dismissed Bahçeli’s remarks as indicative of a condescending mentality, asserting that all security measures taken during the visit were in accordance with protocols agreed upon between Turkish and Iraqi authorities. “We had hoped that God would guide Devlet Bahçeli to abandon racism and contempt. However, it appears he remains the same old gray wolf, merely dressed in sheep’s clothing,” the statement added, referencing the gray wolf symbol associated with Bahçeli’s MHP party.
Ankara hopes that the disarmament of the PKK can improve stability in the broader region administered by the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where PKK forces are based. Turkey’s Interior Ministry has initiated an investigation into the images of armed guards during Barzani’s visit, while the Foreign Ministry has labeled Barzani’s office’s statement as unacceptable, provocative, and offensive.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has requested explanations from the Iraqi side and demanded action against those involved. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also described the statements from Barzani’s office as impolite and unacceptable, expressing his hope that this grave error would be rectified.
