We are writing to raise our concerns about the actions of the IS in Iraq and Kurdistan, and to suggest measures which must be taken in order to ease the current crisis.

The IS have initiated a campaign of widespread terror involving large-scale acts of murder, rape, and abduction across the areas of Iraq now under their control. As a result there is a huge mass of displaced people with thousands of Yezidi people either fleeing or trapped on Shengal Mountain.

Moreover, the IS is supported by certain states in the region - notably Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Meanwhile, the IS flag, a symbol of their politics and ideology, is openly displayed on a number of European streets.

We believe that what we witness now is a consequence of the US-led occupation in 2003 against Iraq. This was a plan and a policy which led to the emergence of many ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups and parties. Their subsequent actions and conflicts led to the death of hundreds of thousands and the displacementof millions.

We believe that we should not only condemn this situation; it must be confronted.

As such, we urgently call for the following:

1. Immediate steps and actions must be taken to help all those who are displaced, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The Yezidis, in particular, are most desperately in need of such help.

2. The abovementioned countries which have supported the IS financially and militarily should be condemned and held responsible for this.

3. The ruling parties across Iraq propagate racist and ethnocentric sentiments among the people, causing tension between Arabs and Kurds, as well as Sunni and Shiites. This is catastrophic and has brought about high levels of ethno-sectarian hatred in Iraq and Kurdistan. Pressure should be exerted on the political parties to stop this.

4. Any activities and demonstrations by IS supporters must be banned in the European countries. What they do does not constitute freedom of political thought; it simply advocates hatred and killing. Tolerating these groups may create circumstances for other racist groups to flourish and spread hostility towards people from the so-called Islamic States. This is a potentially disastrous risk, which the EU should avoid.

We hope that the EU will register our concern on the matter and consequently act upon the abovementioned.

Worker-Communist Party of Kurdistan
Abroad Committee

Worker-Communist Party of Iraq
Abroad Committee