Interior Minister: PKK-affiliated party in Shingal not recognized by Kurdistan government

PKK seeks to establish a self-administration canton in the Ezidi-populated areas of Shingal.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Interior told Kurdistan24 on Tuesday that political parties affiliated with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are not recognized by either Kurdistan Region or the Iraqi governments.

Karim Sinjari added that the recently established PKK-affiliated political party in Shingal is illegal since it is not in the list of registered political parties in the Kurdistan Region.

Sinjari explained that no political party can work in the Kurdistan Region without permission from the KRG’s Ministry of Interior.

The PKK-affiliated Ezidi Freedom and Democracy Movement (TEVDA) in Shingal recently filed an official request with Iraqi authorities to approve the formation of a political party called the Ezidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADE).

According to a media agency affiliated with the PKK, the new Ezidi party was officially recognized by the Iraqi Parliament on April 30, 2017.

“PADE will be able to participate in future Iraqi elections and will open its offices in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” the agency added.

However, the laws in the Kurdistan Region deem that any new political party wishing to operate and participate in elections should have official permission from the KRG’s Ministry of Interior.

Sinjari denied PADE’s claims about having permission from the Iraqi government, stating that “The Iraqi government has not granted them a legal permission.”

The PKK-affiliated party seeks to establish a self-administration canton in the Ezidi-populated areas of Shingal, an attempt rejected by the Kurdistan Region senior officials and ruling political parties.