Dear Boris Johnson, Foreign Minister (UK)
I write to you in your capacity as my local MP, and in your capacity as Her Majesty's Foreign Secretary, in light of the gravity of events that have erupted in the last couple of weeks in the autonomous region of Kurdistan in Iraq.
Whilst I am extremely proud to be British, both born and raised in London, and devoted to the service of others, I am equally proud to be the son of refugees that originated from Kurdistan Region and understand my responsibilities to discharge my duty of raising awareness when there is injustice. I had multiple charity trips to the region and a key architect in forming the largest British collection of English books (100,000 books). I met & learnt from young and talented medical students, as well as the opportunity to visit universities including the American University of Duhok to see innovation & a society hungry to succeed.
It is unfortunate but not surprisingly to see 'fake news' across social media regarding the Kurdistan Region leadership and people. In light of powerful neighbours, and the current economic situation this is not surprising albeit not a true reflection of the region, as testament to the 93% who voted YES in the regions referendum.
I am concerned that Iranian backed PMF forces with the Iraq federal police was allowed to attack Kurdistan Region's integrity, people, and democracy on the back of the region undertaking a democratic referendum - which 93% voted YES.
My principal concern is that our ally, the US, (and also potentially UK) weapons supplied appeared to have been discharged in re-taking the disputed areas; which is a clear violation of user & aid agreements. British taxpayers did not consent for weapons contributed to combat ISIS, to be used by the Iraqi Government to kill or intimidate innocent Kurdish communities.
This raises grave ethical, &, security questions around the governance of providing such weapons, and whether they have been abused by the Iraq government. I require assurance in the spirit of both a humanitarian but also as a British taxpayer that this will be investigated by the Foreign affairs committee to ensure that the UK government aid has not been abused or contributed to the appearing possibility of a genocide-driven campaign on Kurds & Kurdish forces in disputed areas.
Boris, you visited Kurdistan Region, and met the community whom were pluralistic in nature and devoted to peace & stability. It is not a crime for the youth to have dreams of prosperity and the elderly to have dreams of a fruitful retirement without fear of attack from fanatically-driven neighbouring regimes.
I want to know whether both as my MP, and as Foreign Secretary, you will support the Kurdish community by speaking up to end an escalation of conflict. I want to know your position on whether the UK will if necessary continue the no-fly zone protection for the Kurds in light of the scars of the Iraqi Chemical attacks; should the Kurdistan Region be threatened from any further assault in the next coming weeks.
Please consider a measured response, as it impacts not only the 40 million or so Kurds, but also the Kurdish diaspora in Britain whom are proud, and will always be proud, to be British Kurds.