Kurdish Activists Protest in Front of Iraqi Embassy Over Salary Cuts and Political Corruption

 

London, UK – June 4, 2025

In a bold and emotional protest led by members of Dakok and prominent Kurdish activists, demonstrators gathered today outside the Iraqi Consulate to raise their voices against the ongoing salary cuts, economic strangulation, and political corruption affecting the Kurdistan Region.

Waving placards and chanting slogans, the group delivered a powerful statement condemning both the Iraqi government and the ruling parties in the Kurdistan Region, particularly the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The protesters accused both sides of using public sector salaries as a political weapon, punishing ordinary citizens for disputes between governments.

“The Iraqi and Kurdish ruling elites have turned the livelihoods of millions into a bargaining chip. The poor are being crushed by political games and greed,” said one of the speakers during the protest.

Activists also directed sharp criticism at the recent decision by Iraq’s Finance Minister, Taif Sami, to delay or withhold salaries of Kurdistan Region employees, calling the move discriminatory and unconstitutional.

“We say to Baghdad: if you have a problem with KDP or PUK, solve it with them. Don’t starve our people.”

Speakers described the salary crisis as the latest version of Anfal and Arabization state-led campaigns that historically targeted Kurds for ethnic cleansing. They warned that continued discrimination and economic marginalization would only deepen the suffering of Kurdish citizens, who have already endured years of war, instability, and broken promises.

Citing the unresolved oil and revenue disputes between Erbil and Baghdad since 2014, activists claimed that the current crisis is rooted in corruption and a lack of transparency.

“Both the KDP and PUK have monopolized the Region’s oil and non-oil income. Their refusal to agree with Baghdad has made ordinary citizens pay the price,” another protester said.

The protest ended with calls for international attention, justice for Kurdistan’s suffering population, and the establishment of an independent court to hold corrupt officials accountable.

 

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