Family Rule Turns Political Dissent into Criminal Accusations – Luqman Mawlan as an Example
Luqman Mawlan Ismail, a Kurdish citizen holding an Italian residence permit and residing in Sweden, was arrested by Parastin, a security force affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), in the market of Korê, a small town near Erbil, on January 14, 2024, after returning to the Kurdistan Region.
“A special security team operating under the direct orders of Rebar Ahmad Barzani, the Minister of Interior, followed him and arrested him in the marketplace,” said a family member, Hunar Omar, in a statement to Kurdfile Media. “Initially, the authorities claimed that his arrest was due to a personal dispute over the misuse of mobile phones. However, even after the complainant dropped all charges, the security forces refused to release him.”
Legal Process Blocked by Political Influence
According to Kurdfile Media, KDP security forces initially denied Luqman access to legal representation. “After multiple attempts to speak with the judge regarding his right to a lawyer, the judge stated that the matter was beyond his authority and required approval from Sari Rash—meaning the Barzani family,” Omar explained.
Luqman’s family resides in Korê, just a few kilometers from the Barzani family residence and the KDP’s decision-making center. The ruling party does not tolerate criticism. “After more than a year in detention, despite the case being effectively resolved, security forces now claim that he is being held for making offensive comments about the KDP,” Omar added.
Media Manipulation and Fabricated Allegations
On July 24, 2024, following sustained pressure from independent media, Kurdish activists, and the Kurdish diaspora including members of the Dakok Organization for Rights and Freedom and 17 Shubat. Erbil police issued a statement accusing Luqman of being involved with Govand CTS, an alleged criminal group that extorted money from women using explicit images.
“This accusation is completely absent from his case file, and he was never questioned about it,” Mr Omar stated. “This is nothing more than a media war between the police and the Asayish security forces. His lawyer has reviewed all the documents, and there is no such issue on record.
He added that the allegations were an attempt to destroy Luqman’s reputation and intimidate his family. “Under Iraqi law, the identities of suspects even those accused of murder, theft, or terrorism are protected. Yet KDP-affiliated media published Luqman’s full name and photos across their platforms. This was an orchestrated smear campaign.”
Political Persecution Beyond Borders
Despite the case being unresolved in court, Luqman has now spent over a year and two months in detention. Security forces have prevented his case from moving forward, and no official documents have been made available to his family. “They are deliberately blocking him from being brought before a judge to resolve his case,” Mr Omar emphasized.
He also raised concerns about the KDP’s growing efforts to silence dissidents beyond Kurdistan. “Rebar Ahmad’s visit to London is not about diplomacy it’s about expanding their persecution network. They want to track down and silence critics abroad, just like they did with Luqman. We have access not only in Kurdistan but also in London.”
According to Kurdfile Media, the Kurdistan Defence Agency, controlled by the KDP, has a special department tasked with recording data on activists and political opponents both inside and outside the country.
Luqman Mawlan Ismail’s case is emblematic of the broader crackdown on free expression in the Kurdistan Region. Under KDP rule, political dissent is criminalized, the judiciary is subservient to party interests, and media smear campaigns serve as a weapon to discredit and intimidate critics.
