Opposition MP resigns from Kurdistan parliament following immunity saga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An outspoken opposition Kurdistan Region parliamentarian officially resigned on Wednesday, attributing the move to "the parliament not carrying out its "lawmaking duties".

"I am calling on the parliament to approve my letter of resignation in the next parliament session," Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal) MP Soran Omer says in the resignation letter, a copy of which was seen by Rudaw, attributing the termination of his parliamentary work to the parliament "not carrying out its lawmaking duties and monitoring the government,” and “not acting as a representative body of the people of Kurdistan."

Omar's resignation came three days after the Erbil Appellate Court issued a warrant for his arrest based on a lawsuit lodged against the MP by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for libelous statements Omer had made against him.

The parliament voted on May 7 to revoke his parliamentary immunity as a result of the statements.

Though supported by Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and minority bloc in the parliament, the move was roundly condemned by other factions, including the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as an attack on parliament's democratic functions.  Parliament Speaker Rewaz Fayaq was among MPs who boycotted the vote in protest, and repealed the decision in mid-June. 

Soran lashed out at the warrant issued against him, saying he had maintained his immunity according to "the decision from the speaker of the parliament."

"I maintain my immunity and this warrant is nothing but a mere political fight,” he added.

Now that he has resigned, it has remained unclear whether nor Omar is going to appear before the court.

Komal will now replace him with the second most-popular candidate from the 2018 elections. The replacement is said to be Omar Golpy, a party official  told Rudaw on condition of anonymity. 

With seven seats, Komal is the largest Kurdish Islamic party in the Kurdistan Parliament.