Lahur Talabany, brother end hunger strike amid assurances of proper legal process

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Detained Kurdish opposition figure Lahur Talabany and his brother Polad have ended their hunger strike, a member of their legal team confirmed to Rudaw on Thursday, adding that the decision came after they received assurances that their case would proceed through appropriate legal channels.

Dana Taqiyadin detailed that “the hunger strike ended after the internal security forces (Asayish) promised them [Lahur and Polad] that the cases would be referred to the Criminal Court [in Erbil] and handled in accordance with due legal proceedings.”


Lahur Talabany and his brother began a hunger and thirst strike on Sunday, protesting what they described as “mishandling” of their case.

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

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

Lahur Talabany first appeared before a judge in Sulaimani on January 12, but no final ruling or evidentiary hearing took place. At the request of the defense team, the case file was ordered to be transferred to the Court of Appeals in Erbil - the Kurdistan Region’s highest court - to determine the next steps in the case.

Noting delays in the referral process, Taqiyadin told Rudaw on Thursday, “We have requested the transfer of the cases to the city of Erbil nine times, but so far our request has not been accepted,” he said.

Amid the controversy, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday emphasized that all court cases in the Region must proceed without “interference or pressure” and be handled through proper legal channels, in line with the principles of justice.

Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the presidency, further underlined that President Barzani’s position has been clear from the outset: the judiciary must resolve the case “in due time and in accordance with established procedures.”


Meanwhile, on Monday, a group of 11 detainees arrested during the August raid on the Lalezar Hotel was released, including Muhsin Khoshnaw, head of Lahur Talabany’s personal guards.

Taqiyadin told Rudaw that “so far, more than 200 people have been released” in relation to the case, adding that “today [Thursday] alone, 10 more guards were let go.”