Opposition figure jailed in Sulaimani launches hunger strike

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Lahur Talabany, an opposition leader jailed in Sulaimani, announced on Sunday that he and his brother have launched a hunger strike in protest over the handling of their case.

“For eight months, we have been unjustly imprisoned in total disregard of all institutional and legal norms,” read a statement published on Talabany's Facebook account, adding that "together with Kak Polad, we have decided to go on a hunger strike starting today until the rule of law is upheld in our case.”

A source from the People’s Front (Baray Gal) party confirmed to Rudaw that the message “was sent by Lahur Talabany himself and was subsequently published.”

Lahur Talabany, a former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and current leader of the opposition People’s Front, has been in detention since late August following a standoff with security forces in Sulaimani. He was arrested alongside his brother and several associates after a raid on the Lalezar Hotel by security units including Asayish and Counter-Terrorism (CTG) forces.

Authorities at the time accused him of involvement in plotting attacks, including an alleged plan to assassinate Bafel Talabani, president of the PUK – claims his party has repeatedly denied. Court sources previously indicated he could face charges such as “premeditated murder” and “planning acts of sabotage.”

Following the arrests, the Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) in Sulaimani released what it described as confessions from several individuals who said they had acted on Talabany’s orders to plan the assassination of Bafel Talabani. Baray Gal has denied the accusations.

In the statement, Talabany added that despite waiting for due legal process, “it is evident that pressure” his cousins – Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani – on the courts and institutions is preventing even their own fabricated scenarios from reaching the Court of Cassation.”

“To expose your fabricated scenarios, we are once again ready to risk our lives so that everyone knows you have left no independent role for the courts and institutions of Sulaimani,” the statement added.

Earlier this year, Talabany appeared before a judge in Sulaimani, marking his first court appearance since his arrest. The court later decided to transfer his case file to the Court of Appeals in Erbil for further review, while he remains detained in Sulaimani. His legal team said the transfer was made at their request.

In August, senior People’s Front member Shadman Mala Hassan questioned the impartiality of the courts, saying they “follow orders from leaders of political parties.”

Meanwhile, several detainees linked to the so-called Lalezar case have been released in recent months. Court records show that 17 individuals were freed on January 13, followed by four more on January 16, and seven others on February 3.