PUK lawmakers condemn alleged police torture of Kurdish citizens in Kirkuk

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi lawmakers from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Wednesday condemned the federal police’s alleged arrest and torture of Kurdish citizens in Kirkuk Province and called on Baghdad to investigate and address the matter.

"We condemn and denounce the actions of some of the federal police forces in Daquq district and the surrounding areas engaging in irresponsible acts," began Rebwar Taha, an Iraqi parliament member from the PUK. His comments were made during a press conference he and the other five PUK lawmakers representing Kirkuk gave at a local parliament office.

One week earlier, Kirkuk Provincial Council (KPC) member Mohammed Kamal said that Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi militia fighters and Iraqi federal police had arrested and tortured a group of ten Peshmerga and four Arab civilians in Daquq. He claimed that the detainees were forced to "admit to crimes they have not committed."

Such practices by Iraqi security forces, including forced confessions under torture, have been regularly and routinely documented by human rights groups and UN agencies since Iraq's present government came into power. 

Taha seemed to echo the recent reports, stating with their arrest, that the Kurds were "horribly tortured" and cited cases of individuals subjected to "physical and psychological" torments.

The MP called on Baghdad to "investigate the matter and to take immediate and urgent measures to curb such acts and hold those responsible accountable," and demanded the "compensation of affected persons." In particular, he stressed that the Ministry of the Interior and the Joint Operations Command should take action. 

Taha also highlighted ongoing attacks by Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells, especially in regions disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.

In those areas, he said, "our fellow citizens are unsafe and in danger. We call on concerned parties to work professionally and take military measures against the rogue militants of IS."

Editing by John J. Catherine