Iraqi Interior Minister repeals punitive measures against Kurdish police in Kirkuk, Khurmatu

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Minister of Interior on Monday approved a decision to halt investigations against Kurdish security officials of Kirkuk and Khurmatu who participated in the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.

Based on the documents released by Shakhawan Abdullah, a Kurdish Member of the Iraqi Parliament, who is also head of the parliamentary defense and security committee, the Iraqi Minister of Interior repealed the decision to launch investigations against Kurdish police officers in Kirkuk and Khurmatu.

Qasim al-Araji, the Iraqi Interior Minister, met with the Parliament’s defense and interior committee on Monday and decided to dissolve all the committees formed and end investigations launched as part of a crackdown on those who participated in the Sep. 25 referendum.

According to Abdullah, all the punitive measures imposed against the Kurdistan Region following the historic vote were “political, and not legal or constitutional.”

“Therefore, all other measures have to be ended,” he added.

“The Interior Minister was not aware of the investigation committees that were formed against the Kurdish police members and officers following the independence vote on Sep. 25,” the Kurdish MP explained.

According to Abdullah, the Iraqi minister had also promised to resume the payment of police officers’ salaries that have been suspended since mid-October.

In another document, Araji ordered Kurdish border guards from Kirkuk and other areas of the Kurdistan Region who were recently transferred to southern Iraq to return to their previous locations of duty.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany