ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Shaswar Abdulwahid, leader of the New Generation Movement, was released on bail from Asayesh custody on Thursday, according to Judge Omer Ahmed, spokesperson for the Sulaimani Court.
Abdulwahid was arrested on May 16 as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of blackmail and defamation within the party – allegations he denies.
NRT, a media agency founded by Abdulwahid and close to New Generation, said five other party officials held in the investigation will also be released on bail.
Abdulwahid has repeatedly accused the Sulaimani security forces of launching a politically-motivated attack on New Generation.
Earlier this month, the Asayesh released five video confessions by people close to Abdulwahid. They admitted to the blackmail, slander, and defamation of New Generation and rival party politicians.
The defamation charge relates to posts made on social media. The blackmail charge meanwhile relates to claims by Shadi Nawzad, an MP in the Kurdistan Region parliament, accusing Abdulwahid and others of issuing threats via text message to publish nude images of her.
The case follows a split in the party that began last month when several of its MPs in both the Erbil and Baghdad parliaments accused the leadership of betraying the party’s ideals.
The MPs specifically condemned Abdulwahid for allegedly turning the movement into a family business, undermining its collective decision-making process, and then trying to blackmail dissenters into silence.
In a statement to the court on Tuesday, Abdulwahid denied he was behind the defamation of colleagues on social media.
The New Generation leader said he had given his credit card to his secretaries in order to pay for sponsored Facebook posts promoting the party – not to “curse” opponents – according to his lawyer.
The case continues.
Abdulwahid was arrested on May 16 as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of blackmail and defamation within the party – allegations he denies.
NRT, a media agency founded by Abdulwahid and close to New Generation, said five other party officials held in the investigation will also be released on bail.
Investigations will continue and the court is yet to make a final verdict. The New Generation leader is expected to give a press conference later on Thursday.
Abdulwahid has repeatedly accused the Sulaimani security forces of launching a politically-motivated attack on New Generation.
Earlier this month, the Asayesh released five video confessions by people close to Abdulwahid. They admitted to the blackmail, slander, and defamation of New Generation and rival party politicians.
The defamation charge relates to posts made on social media. The blackmail charge meanwhile relates to claims by Shadi Nawzad, an MP in the Kurdistan Region parliament, accusing Abdulwahid and others of issuing threats via text message to publish nude images of her.
The case follows a split in the party that began last month when several of its MPs in both the Erbil and Baghdad parliaments accused the leadership of betraying the party’s ideals.
The MPs specifically condemned Abdulwahid for allegedly turning the movement into a family business, undermining its collective decision-making process, and then trying to blackmail dissenters into silence.
In a statement to the court on Tuesday, Abdulwahid denied he was behind the defamation of colleagues on social media.
The New Generation leader said he had given his credit card to his secretaries in order to pay for sponsored Facebook posts promoting the party – not to “curse” opponents – according to his lawyer.
The case continues.
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