Kurdistan Rights Body expresses deep concern over security raid on Al-Sulaymaniyah cultural institution
Shafaq News/On Friday, the Independent Human Rights Commission of the Kurdistan Regionexpressed grave concern after a security force raided the "Jawder"Cultural Foundation in Al-Sulaymaniyah and confiscated its contents.
In astatement, the Commission said, "According to information announced onThursday evening by politician Mala Bakhtiar, a security force stormed theoffice of the Jawder Cultural Foundation and seized its property and contents,justifying the raid as being based on a search warrant from an unnamedauthority."
TheCommission condemned the incident, stating that "the use of force andseizure of private property from a cultural institution constitutes anoverreach of legal and civil procedures and does not align with regulationssafeguarding freedom of expression and cultural work."
TheCommission further stressed that "such actions represent a violation ofthe principles of intellectual and cultural freedom," calling forresolving the issue through legal means without infringing upon the rights ofindividuals and institutions involved.
It alsoemphasized the importance of respecting legal processes and ensuring thatsimilar actions are carried out under judicial oversight and following the law.
On Thursdayevening, the Jawder Foundation reported that its headquarters, along with theoffice of independent Kurdish politician Mala Bakhtiar, had been raided by acommando unit. The foundation stated that the raid targeted its premises andthe "Ishra'a" cultural center in Glawej, located in Al-Muhandisin'sneighborhood of Al-Sulaymaniyah.
According tothe statement, the attacking force managed to seize all the contents of thepremises after forcing the institution's guards to withdraw.
The JawderFoundation strongly condemned the raid, describing it as a severe threat tofreedom of expression, writing, and thought. The institution called theincident a "worrying step" that endangers fundamental freedoms insociety.
MalaBakhtiar, a former senior political council member of the Patriotic Union ofKurdistan (PUK), also weighed in, stating that the confiscation of the JawderFoundation was "a major threat" and warning that the developmentswere leading towards "a frightening scenario."
Bakhtiaraccused the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of the crackdown on dissent,warning the PUK leadership of pushing the party toward chaos.
The PUK,however, defended the move as a necessary step to regain control over assetsthat had previously belonged to the party.
