"Upon a warrant from the investigating judge, the Kurdistan Region Security Agency started a precise investigation into organized crime by some people. In this framework, after obtaining knowledge and precise follow-ups, some of the suspects hidden at the main headquarters [of the New Generation] in Sulaimani were arrested by our forces," read the Sulaimani Asayesh statement.
The Asayesh did not detail how many people were arrested nor did it identify them.
The upstart political party has been plunged into crisis after accusations from two prominent lawmakers in Baghdad early last week that the party had drifted away from its founding ideals and been overtaking by the business and family priorities of its founder and leader, Shaswar Abdulwahid.
Party members who backed the dissenting voices accused factions within the party and its leader of attempted blackmail. Abdulwahid’s secretary was arrested by Sulaimani security forces on charges of attempted blackmail.
Abdulwahid has denied the accusations and the dissenting lawmakers were summoned to appear before a party disciplinary hearing. He accused the two dominant parties in the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), of being behind these events to try to bring down his party.
The New Generation leader gave a press conference after the arrests on Wednesday. He dismissed charges against his party members as an attempt to “carve out an ugly scenario against us.”
New Generation was formed knowing they faced a “tough task to stand against two parties that are 74 and 44 years old,” he said, referring to the KDP and PUK. "Everything they do is to weaken the New Generation."
He promised the “people that such measures will never stop or threaten us” and appealed to the judges to prevent “those misusing court verdicts to attack and insult people.”
New Generation shook up Kurdistan Region’s political scene last year. The party was established by Sulaimani businessman-turned-politician Abdulwahid to offer voters an alternative to the traditional ruling parties and leaders who have had a tight grip on power for decades. The party exceeded expectations by winning four seats in the Iraqi parliament in May elections and eight in the Kurdistan Region parliament in September.
Two of the party’s MPs in Baghdad and four in Erbil have continued to support Abdulwahid as leader throughout the crisis.
New Generation holds four seats in the 329-seat Iraqi parliament and eight seats in the 111-seat Kurdistan Region legislature.
