Freedom for All Detainees: Sulaimani Crackdown Sparks Outrage

Kurdfile editorial team

Sulaimani, 26 June 2025 – Kurdfile Media team has strongly condemned the recent wave of detentions targeting journalists, civil society activists, and political organizers in Sulaimani. The Media welcomed the release of some media teams and activists but demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees connected to the recent protests.

According to the local media, this morning, security forces in Sulaimani launched a crackdown aimed at preventing a peaceful civil demonstration. In a sweep that began in the early hours across Salem Street and other neighborhoods, security personnel detained numerous activists and entire media teams who intended to cover or participate in a protest organized by the teachers in front of the West education department in Sulaimani.

Names of Released Media Team Members:
Peshawa Nawzad, Nabaz Hidayat, Hana Mahmood, Dzhwar Omar, Sarkawt Hama Faeq, Mohammed Dilshad, Shadost Farhad, Karwan Omran, Sirwan Ali, Mehran Ramazan, Nizar Sattar, Zhilya Ali, Ibrahim Salih, Ayoub Aziz, Mohammed Saadullah, Hassan Mohammed, Hoshyar Mohammed, and Heyman Mohammed.

Although Sulaimani Asayish (Security) informed that all detainees had been released, Speda Channel management stated that Ibrahim Salih and Ayoub Aziz were still in custody. Meanwhile, WistgaNews reported that out of 53 protesters and 14 media workers detained, only a number had been released with 14 protest organizers still in detention.

Kurdfile reiterated its condemnation of these arbitrary detentions, calling them a direct violation of civil and press freedoms, and demanded full release of all those detained for exercising their constitutional rights.

 

The Night Before the Protest

On the night of 25 June, activist organizers Osman Gulpi and Dilshad Mirani were summoned via telephone to visit the Sulaimani Asayish headquarters. After arriving, both disappeared from contact.

According to Adel Hassan, a member of the Union of Dissatisfied Teachers, the families of those detained went to the security office the following morning and were told:

“They are here with us. They will be released tomorrow.”

That same evening, a group of teachers held a press conference at Sulaimani Public Park, demanding the release of detained colleagues, including civil activist Dilsouz Zangana and an NRT media team.

In a related incident, security forces also detained a group of protesting teachers in front of the “Halwest” office in Sulaimani. Those arrested were:
Najmaddin Mohammed, Dlwar Ali, Zryan Ali, Munira Abdullah, Shahla Ali, Noor Fariq, and Mohammed Rasul.

All were part of the team that had planned to lead Thursday’s protest against unpaid salaries, corruption, and injustice.

 

Journalists Targeted

On 24 June, during preparations for a report at Sulaimani Bazaar, NRT journalists Ali Salih and Mir Sarkawt were briefly detained by security forces.

Their arrest coincided with a statement from the Sulaimani Security Committee, warning that:

“Given the sensitive security conditions, protests are not advisable.”

Authorities urged organizers to postpone the demonstration, claiming it would escalate tensions and risk unrest.

 

Official Response & Contradiction

Despite this, teachers and civil servants dismissed the request and reiterated their commitment to a peaceful, civil protest on Thursday, insisting on their right to demand salaries and oppose systemic corruption.

During a press conference, Colonel Salam Abdulkhaliq, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Security Agency, said:

“Protesting is a right, but the timing was considered risky. We had intel that the protest might spiral into violence.”

He also confirmed:

“Under Article 10 of the Demonstration Law No. 11 of 2010 in the Kurdistan Region, we detained 11 individuals for violating its provisions.”

The article stipulates that any person who violates the protest regulations may face up to one month of imprisonment or a fine ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 IQD or both.

 

in brief:

Kurdfile Media, civil society groups, and local observers continue to denounce the crackdown, demanding the immediate release of all remaining detainees, including protest organizers, journalists, and civil servants arrested merely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Kurdfile Media will continue monitoring developments and reporting on any further violations against civil liberties in the Kurdistan Region.