By Assyrian International News AgencyKurdish security forces (Asayish) imposed a blockade on four Assyrian villages in the Nahla district in North Iraq to prevent Assyrians from going to Arbel to participate in a demonstration. Cars belonging to Kurdish security were parked across the roads leading out of Nahla, blocking more than 100 Assyrians from leaving the villages of Upper and Lower Hezani, Zoly and Khalilane.
The demonstration was held yesterday at 12 P.M. in front of the Kurdish Parliament building in Arbel and was attended by more than 60 Assyrians. The demonstrators were protesting the illegal seizure of Assyrian land in Zoly and construction of homes on that land.
A Kurd named Ibrahim Hajji Yasin moved into Nahla a few months ago and began seizing land in the village of Zoly and moving livestock into it. He brought more than 200 cows into the land. He also began constructing 3 homes.
According to Assyrian sources, Mr. Yasin is employed by Retha Zebari, a close relative of Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Nahla has eight Assyrian villages, Upper and Lower Hezani, Belmand, Khalilane, Zoly, Kashkawa, Meroke and Rabatke. The land of Nahla on parcels 89 and 90 includes Upper and Lower Hezani, Zoly and Khalilane, and all the deeds in these villages are held by 117 Assyrians in a co-op. The deeds, most of which were granted before 1970, have been recognized by the Iraqi Department of Agriculture and Iraqi courts.