Iraqi Kurdistan (IK) citizens continue their demonstrations against injustice and corruption. The citizens of Iraqi Kurdistan are angry at the authorities and political parties of the region due to the delay and/or lack of giving salaries, unemployment, and lack of services, and they are demanding the authorities to immediately dissolve the government. Today, many demonstrations were held in towns and cities of Iraqi Kurdistan. The security forces tried to disperse the protesters, using violent means and they arrested many activists and organizers of the protests.

Sulaimaniya

In Sulaimaniya city, which is governed by PUK and Goran-movement, a demonstration was held outside the governor’s office. Since yesterday many armed forces, both formal and informal, were placed in many streets and other locations of the city with an order of the city´s security council, aiming to stop the demonstration, which was called for in the past few days.

Today, many of the organizers of the protests were arrested before the demonstration starts, after confirmation, we are now able to reveal some of the names of the activists and organizers arrest-ed by the security forces: Ebdulla Mela Nuri, Serko Heme Emin and Peyman Izzeddin who were all former members of Iraqi Kurdistan’s parliament. Also, the university teacher Eziz Re´uf and the politician Usman Gulpi along with many other activists and protesters have been arrested and kidnapped. In addition, a reporter from NRT and the Al-Iraqiya channel team member, Karzan Tariq were also arrested while covering the demonstrations.

When the demonstrations grew larger, all the checkpoints outside Suliamniya were closed and people were blocked from entering the city. Eli Heme Salih, Daban Mohammad and Celal Mi-hemmed who are all MPs affiliated with Goran-movement were stopped from travelling to the city at the checkpoint of Simaquli, between Erbil and Sulaimaniya to prevent them from participating in the demonstrations.

The demonstrators in Sulaimaniya were shouting the following slogans: “Down with the Thief”, “Barzani and Talebani, the engineers of the plundering”, “Azadi-Azadi”. The security forces started to crack down on protests by using live ammunition, tear gas and arbitrary arrests. The violence from the security forces turned the protests from a non-violent demonstration to a violent one. The protesters attacked the headquarter of the Qaywan Group, the main headquarter of the Asia Cell and the Renovation Authority.

Piremegrun

The security forces arrested Mela Tahir Kelebashi, the imam and preacher of the big mosque of Pire Megrun who had called for demonstrations. A demonstration was held outside the mosque today chanting “Down with the Government”. The security forces were pressured, and later they released the imam.

Kelar

Despite the heavy presence of the military, a demonstration was held in Kelar, in the Germiyan district. The security forces used extensive violence in their attack against the protestors aiming to disperse them. It resulted in several injuries of children and youths.

Raniya

In the city of Raniya, in the Sulaimaniya governorate, the public workers and teachers continued their protests which have been going on for several days. They were shouting many anti-governmental slogans. The tried to march towards the committee and the district headquarter of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). But the security forces attacked them and used sound bombs and tear gas, which several demonstrators were wounded.

Erbil

Erbil, which is under PDK/KDP control, has been packed with security forces wearing military and casual clothes, to prevent demonstrators from protesting. Today, a few people tried to protest outside of the citadel, they were immediately arrested by the security forces. Also, the electricity of Erbil was shut down and private owners of electricity generators were warned to not operate the generators by the authorities of Erbil. Furthermore, some MPs tried to protest the way the government have handled the protests and the violence used by the security forces resulting in the deaths of several protesters.

A few months ago, the protests started in Duhok and spread to other places. The authorities arrested many activists, some of them are still missing. The security forces have also arrested people who have criticized the government and called for protests on social media platforms. Last night, three young people were arrested in Shiladze, Amedi and Duhok with the names Hesen Rekani, Necirvan Rekani, Segvan Rekani.

While the government-affiliated armed groups have been spread all over the Kurdistan region, the protestors continue to demonstrate in many towns and cities. The government is attempting to stop the protests at all costs, the authorities have shut down internet services and media outlets of the opposition parties. During the demonstrations, ten protesters, most of whom are minors have been killed by PUK and KDP affiliated armed forces and dozens have been injured, and many more arrested. In addition, properties have been burnt down, many of those properties are the two ruling parties and the government’s offices. The government, instead of listening to the protesters and accepting their demands, tries to stop them by force.

This report is prepared by several freelance journalists and activists.

11/12/2020