KRG’s Inaction on Corruption: A Crime Against the People

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) claims to have investigated over 100 senior officials for corruption, yet not a single one has been held accountable. This glaring failure in governance raises serious questions about the integrity of the region’s leadership and its commitment to justice.

Judge Ahmad Anwar, chairman of the Kurdistan Regional Prosecutor’s Office, highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, “Corruption is a crime against the people, and any crime against public rights harms all people.” He emphasized the need for the trial process to be expedited, but the reality on the ground tells a different story.

The Intelligence Commission, tasked with investigating corruption, is woefully understaffed. With only 21 investigators responsible for overseeing a public sector of over 800,000 employees, the commission is fighting a losing battle. Anwar pointed out that this number should be at least five times higher to effectively combat corruption, and that the commission should have a presence in all regions and autonomous administrations.

Despite numerous investigations, the lack of punitive action against senior officials is glaring. “We are asked why no senior officials are being punished,” Anwar noted. “Yes, there are more than 100 senior officials who have been investigated, and some have even been sent to court, but the process of suspending sentences is troubling.”

For over 30 years, the two ruling parties in Kurdistan have exploited the absence of effective oversight, allowing corruption to flourish unchecked. With a weak parliament and a judiciary that appears unable—or unwilling—to punish those in power, the KRG has allowed corruption to become deeply entrenched in its political system. The failure to punish corrupt officials is not just a lapse in governance; it is a betrayal of the people of Kurdistan, who continue to suffer the consequences of this unchecked corruption.