SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – A judge has ordered the release on bail of Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir. The decision was made Tuesday evening after the businessman-turned-politician spent a week in detention in connection with violent protests in Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani and Halabja provinces, his lawyer told Rudaw.
Qadir, who is the head of the newly-founded New Generation party and former owner of NRT media network, was arrested by security forces (Asayesh) last Tuesday.
He should be released before midnight, his lawyer said, adding that they are now finalizing procedures to secure his release in Sulaimani’s Asayesh General Office, including paying a 10 million Iraqi dinar bail (about $8,400).
On Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m., NRT Facebook posted that Qadir was "released" along with photos of him in what appeared to be a house with family members.
Rabun Maaruf, an MP and spokesperson for the same party, was released on Tuesday evening, Soran Omar, MP and head of the Human Rights Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament, told Rudaw.
Photo shows Kurdish MPs Rabun Maruf [L] and Soran Omar on Tuesday, December 26, 2017. Photo: Omar's Facebook page
Maruf confirmed his release Tuesday night in a Facebook post where he urged people to adopt “civic mechanism" when making their demands.
“All of our strategy and our political project depend on avoiding violence, the protection of security and stability of Kurdistan,” Maruf stated.
“Violence and hatred among one another will lead to the collapse of this country. We believe in our nation, that we can bring about change in our country and build a brighter future through a civic mechanism,” the Kurdish MP explained.
He also expressed his condolences to those killed and injured during the protests.
“My heart is with you and I understand your concerns and grievances,” he concluded in his message to his fans.
Both politicians were arrested after violent protests that resulted in the deaths of at least two people and least another 300 injured. Dozens of party and government buildings were set ablaze by some of the protesters, especially in Piramagrun, and Rania, all located in Sulaimani province.
A KRG-imposed suspension of NRT broadcasts was due to end at 7:00 pm local time this evening.
The KRG’s Ministry of Culture issued the week-long suspension on charges of inciting violence, a charge denied by NRT, one of the largest media organizations in Kurdistan. They described it as a “dangerous threat” against media freedom.
Kurdish security, Asayesh, reported earlier that they detained about a dozen people on charges of attacks on party offices in Koya, while an Asayesh unit in Halabja stated that they released some protesters who were their “guests” for several hours on Saturday.
Security forces have been deployed to some of the cities affected by the protests, described by at least one Kurdish party, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, as “militarization” of urban areas.
The KRG has said they respect the people’s right to peaceful protest, but maintain they have a duty to end attacks on public and private property.
A wave of anti-government protests started on Monday last week. Protesters demanded full payment of reduced or delayed salaries of public employees, better basic services such as electricity, and an end to wide-spread corruption in the KRG’s institutions.
The KRG argues that three years of budget cuts and the loss of Kirkuk’s oil revenues in mid-October are the two primary reasons behind the delayed salaries.
Last updated at 3:15 p.m. on December 27 with NRT's announcement of Qadir's release.
