KDP Political Bureau Chief Condemns Baghdad’s Retaliatory Measures Against Kurdistan Region’s Public Servants
KDP's Mirani slams Iraq for withholding Kurdistan salaries, calling it "collective punishment." The KDP warns of political action if unpaid before Eid, accusing Baghdad of violating constitutional rights.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Fazil Mirani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Politburo’s Administrative Body, on Friday sharply criticized the Iraqi federal government’s decision to halt the salaries of Kurdistan Region employees, describing the move as a form of collective punishment against innocent civil servants.
In an opinion piece published on KDP’s official website, Mirani expressed deep regret over what he termed the “punishment” of individuals who have committed no crime or violation. “It is unacceptable that employees of the Kurdistan Region are treated according to political calculations, while being denied equal treatment with their counterparts in other parts of Iraq,” he wrote.
Baghdad Accused of Discriminatory Practices
Mirani emphasized that civil servants in the Kurdistan Region are Iraqi citizens and are not aligned with any foreign party to warrant punitive action. His remarks come in response to the Iraqi Ministry of Finance’s recent directive to withhold the salaries of public employees in the Kurdistan Region, a move that has sparked widespread criticism.
KDP Political Bureau Decries Federal Overreach
The KDP Political Bureau issued a strongly worded public statement on Thursday, denouncing the Ministry’s decision as a violation of the Region’s constitutional rights. “We inform the public in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region that the federal government continues to violate the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region. The latest violation is the Ministry of Finance’s letter, which contradicts the Iraqi Constitution and the foundational principles of the government formation agreement,” the statement read.
The KDP leadership accused Baghdad of “politicizing the livelihoods of citizens” and called the decision an unacceptable breach of legal and political norms.
Impending Political Action
The statement further revealed that the KDP will convene its Central Committee on June 2, 2025, to deliberate on the issue. “If the financial entitlements of the Kurdistan Region’s citizens are not delivered before Eid al-Adha, we will take a serious stance and announce our position publicly,” it warned.
Systemic Delays and Unjustified Justifications
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly criticized the Iraqi federal Ministry of Finance for its pattern of delaying salary disbursements. Despite the constitutional obligation and agreed budgetary allocations, Baghdad often cites administrative and procedural justifications, which the KRG dismisses as baseless and politically motivated.
Observers note that the dispute over salaries has become a recurring flashpoint in Baghdad-Erbil relations, undermining trust and destabilizing public confidence in Iraq’s federal governance. The continued suspension of salaries not only inflicts economic hardship on public servants but is also perceived as an attempt to exert political pressure on the Kurdistan Region.
