Masoud Barzani: Iraqi court ruling against Kirkuk council head ‘purely political’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish leader charged on Wednesday that a recently-issued arrest warrant and subsequent sentence given by an Iraqi court to Kirkuk Provincial Council Head Rebwar Talabani were “purely political” and had ”nothing to do with” justice.

A court in Kirkuk on Wednesday sentenced Rebwar Talabani to six months in prison in absentia for “illegally” spending large amounts of Iraqi funds.

The court’s ruling states that Talabani had spent 76 million Iraqi dinars ($63,567) “outside of [the] legal framework” and issued the arrest warrant for the Kurdish official.

Following the attack and military takeover of Kirkuk by Iraqi forces and Shia militias on Oct. 16 of last year, Talabani, along with many other council members, fled to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Since then, the body has been unable to convene.

The Kirkuk court also warns the Kurdish official that his case will be referred to the Iraqi Criminal Court for a trial, should he fail to return the full amount specified.

Shortly after the release of the court’s ruling, Talabani’s party, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), stressed in a statement that they would take legal steps against the court's decision.

“This ruling has not been made based on the rule of law and impartiality of the court. The motive behind this decision is political and is retaliation against Rebwar Talabani [based] on his national stance and the services he provided to the people of Kirkuk city,” read the statement issued by KIU on Wednesday.

The party also expressed additional concerns about the ruling, stating that they would take all legal and political measures to “correct this decision.”

Kirkuk is a disputed and an ethnically diverse province, consisting of Arabs, Turkmens, Christians, and a Kurdish majority.

Masoud Barzani, former president of the Kurdistan Region and current head of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), issued a statement on Wednesday in response to the ruling on Talabani in which he called on the federal government of Iraq “to put an end to such political decisions.”

“It’s a purely political decision and it has nothing to do with the subject of law and judiciary,” Barzani stated.

He mentioned that Talabani has stood against violations of the law and of the Constitution, and as the head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, he has defended the interests of all populations in the province.

“Such decisions never serve the political situation and do not address problems, but deepen them,” Barzani added. ”Therefore, we call upon federal institutions, relevant parties, and the federal government to put an end to such political decisions that do not serve the interest of Iraq and the problems of Kirkuk.” 

Editing by John J. Catherine