What If?

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Author: Razhan Ahmed – UK Kurdish Activist

What if the Kurdistan security forces had treated demonstrators with the same restraint, professionalism, and respect for human rights expected of the French police?

What if the security forces and party affiliated militias in Kurdistan had responded to protesters in a civilized and humane manner instead of resorting to violence, opening fire, and taking young lives?

The demonstrations that began on February 17 and continued afterward were met with a harsh crackdown by security forces, reportedly acting on direct orders from senior party leaders. These actions resulted in the deaths of young protesters, leaving families and communities grieving and raising serious questions about the responsibility of those who ordered and carried out the violence.

Rather than using force to silence citizens, Kurdistan’s security forces should learn from policing practices that prioritize protecting lives, respecting human dignity, and safeguarding the right to peaceful protest. No one should be shot or killed simply for demanding their legitimate rights. Security personnel must serve and protect the public, not sacrifice citizens’ lives to preserve the power and interests of those in authority.

Unfortunately, the conduct of Kurdistan’s security forces over the past several years has raised serious concerns about their treatment of demonstrators. Time and again, protesters have faced brutal crackdowns, while weapons have been used to suppress their voices and silence those calling for freedom, justice, and reform.

The duty of security forces is to protect the people, not to defend ruling families at the expense of human life. Peaceful protesters are citizens whose rights and dignity must be respected, not enemies to be confronted with bullets. Kurdistan deserves a security force that upholds justice, protects its people, and answers to the public rather than blindly following orders from political leaders.

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Harki is an independent investigative journalist and human rights advocate. As a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), he focuses on exposing corruption and human rights abuses in Kurdistan and Iraq. He voluntarily contributes to Kurdfile Media.