Politics

Zebari Calls Sulaymani Sit-in Politicized, Urges Protesters to Demonstrate in Baghdad

Iranian-backed militias have been attempting to create unrest within the Kurdistan Region as part of broader destabilization tactics against the KRG.

Hoshyar Zebari, KDP Politburo senior member, and Iraqi former FM, speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Hoshyar Zebari, KDP Politburo senior member, and Iraqi former FM, speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Iraq Hoshyar Zebari

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Hoshyar Zebari, a senior member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) politburo and former Iraqi Foreign Minister, has criticized the recent sit-in movement in Sulaymani province of Kurdistan Region, labeling it as “highly politicized.” 

In a statement posted on his personal X account, Zebari suggested that protesters should shift their demonstrations to Baghdad, arguing that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has already fulfilled its financial obligations.

“The sit-in movement that was recently organized in Sulaymani is highly politicized, and it would be more appropriate for the protesting brothers to move their tents, sit-ins, and hunger strike to Tahrir Square or Imam Qasim Street in front of the Ministry of Finance to demand the regular payment of their financial dues, especially since the regional government has settled the matter with Baghdad,” Zebari wrote.

His remarks come amid rising tensions surrounding ongoing demonstrations in Sulaymani, where public sector employees and activists have staged sit-ins to demand delayed salaries and financial entitlements. The KRG Ministry of Interior has warned against external manipulation of these protests, expressing concerns over potential interference by political factions aiming to destabilize the region.

Additionally, reports indicate that Iranian-backed militias have been attempting to create unrest within the Kurdistan Region as part of broader destabilization tactics against the KRG. Security experts have pointed to these factions as key players in fueling discord, leveraging public frustration to advance their own agendas.

Zebari’s statement aligns with the KDP’s broader stance, which has consistently urged coordination between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve financial disputes and ensure the timely disbursement of salaries. His call for protesters to direct their demands at Iraq’s federal government rather than the KRG underscores the complex fiscal relationship between the two entities, with Erbil repeatedly asserting that Baghdad holds responsibility for ensuring the Kurdistan Region receives its budgetary allocations in full.