KIU opposition party HQ set on fire in Zakho

News and comment by The Kurdistan Tribune:

The local headquarters of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) – an opposition political party represented  in the Kurdistan Parliament – was attacked and set on fire today, 2 December, in the town of Zakho.

Prior to the attack hundreds of local people took part in a demonstration following Friday prayers, culminating in sporadic attacks on local off-licenses and massage parlours.  However, the KIU had nothing to do with these events. Unlike the ruling parties it does not have a private militia and it has always advocated a peaceful solution to the problems facing the region.

A  KIU spokesman told local reporters that the party holds the town’s security officials responsible for the arson attack which happened after KDP militiamen opened fire on the demonstrators, injuring 15 people. The KIU has been unable to calculate the full extent of the damage to its Branch 13 HQ (which houses its local TV  and radio station), because security officers have taken control of the building.

While this story has been covered by all the opposition TV stations, it has been ignored by the TV stations of the two ruling parties.

Some commentators believe today’s protest in Zakho was not really about religion but more a reflection of underlying popular discontent with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Yesterday there was a protest in Erbil, the KRG capital, about poor public services.

Ahmed Mira, editor of Lvinpress, told Speeda TV that the situation shows that the authorities are still influenced by a culture of violence.

Awena’s editor, Shwan Mohammed, compared the incident to the attack on the Gorran offices two years ago and the killing of 12 KIU members in 2005. He said the local protests could culminate in an explosion of popular anger. This view was echoed by The Kurdistan Tribune’s editor-in-chief, Mufid Abdulla, who recently returned to the UK from a visit to the Kurdistan Region. “Kurdistan is on the edge of revolution”, he said.

We have to ask why there seems to be a pattern of burning the offices of opposition parties in KDP-controlled towns.

5 Responses to KIU opposition party HQ set on fire in Zakho
  1. A PATRIOT PESHMARGA
    December 3, 2011 | 00:33

    A revolution is in the offing in Iraqi Kurdistan soon. It is aimed at changing and bettering the entire system for all fellow-citizens. No more corruption and injustice. Everything must be based on merits. New election dates should be set so that all political parties can equally participate. However, until then, the government must remain under the direct control of “patriots Peshmarg Forces” so that it will continue to sustain itself and curb foreign meddlers or opportunities seeking to destabilize it.

  2. nawra
    December 3, 2011 | 11:30

    Every one know, even i know Barazani and Talabani has benn in power for many years and they should go home but what I and may be others do not understand is why alcohol sales supermarkets and massage center has been burned and i don’t understand why now because this events never happened before and barzani’s party hasn’t hasn’t bothered alcohol sales or massage center

  3. haval
    December 3, 2011 | 18:13

    KDP know very well the KIU is the second largest party in Badinan Area.This attack by their followers is the evidence of KDP desperation .KDP is not a political party and the only option he got in dealing with other parties is violence …
    KDP is losing party in all kurdistan ,by this act of desperation made KIU more popular and themselves more isolated than ever befor.

  4. Malla Karim
    December 3, 2011 | 19:58

    The 1st uprising was a joint one by both Goran + Islamists. Barzani suffocated Goran by involving them in the ongoing corruption. This time Barzani will have to convene with Islamic groups and fill their pockets a little bit. KIU covets its cut. The whole situation will then calm down.
    As far as selling alcohol, open prostitutions houses, and the ongoing social corruption is concerned, I personally do not endorse it. Barzani and KDP come from a religious family background. Money has blinded their eyes and they seem to resort to anything to maintain their rule.

  5. […] that they were responsible. Instead, they blamed the attack on their headquarters on the KDP, and claimed the riots themselves were a cause of KDP’s poor security management. A KIU activist cited the […]

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