SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Interior on Monday called the citizens to hand over their heavy weapons amid the gun eradication campaign.
Earlier, the Ministry announced a week-long gun eradication campaign across the Kurdistan Region to confiscate unlicensed weapons.
“Any citizens who held heavy weapons must hand them to the government, and the rest of other weapons must be registered,” a statement from the Ministry read.
The campaign is in the midst of efforts to prevent further gun crimes and avoidance of using arms to decide on the issues, the statement said.
The week-long campaign came as the world mark the global week of gun eradication campaign overseen by the United Nations, annually starting from October 24 to 30.
The Ministry called upon the Kurdistan Region citizens to abide by the instructions, saying “They must immediately hand over their heavy weapons.”
However, it said that light weapons such as pistol and Ak-47 and their peers should be registered in the dedicated stations, according to the statement.
Earlier on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Ministry said the campaign is another phase of the unlicensed gun eradication campaign.
“Throughout that week the tasked authorities must search all public places including those that they would get information about it,” the spokesman said.
The official said there would be roadblocks everywhere, “Every vehicle will be searched to confiscate unlicensed guns.”
“Why do you need a weapon while police, Asayish [the Security Forces], and Peshmerga can protect you,” the official added.
Esta reporter on Monday said that in the framework of the campaign, currently dozens of roadblock has been set up in the center of Sulaimani city to search suspected citizen vehicles that possess unlicensed guns.
“The current ongoing camping would be much strict than the previous ones, people welcome the decision,” Sarkawt Ahamd, the spokesman to Sulaimani police told Esta reporter.
A while back, in June, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani ordered the shutting down of all markets selling firearms as well as the confiscation of unlicensed weapons.
Barzani’s decision came as the Region was experiencing a surge in gun crimes.
According to estimates, 70 percent of the Kurdistan Region citizens possess their own weapons.
