Kurdish Journalist Slams Khazali for Undermining Kurdistan Region’s Economic Rights
“If justice truly exists in Baghdad, then Khazali and his ideological allies must be held accountable for this economic crime against the people of Kurdistan,” Ezzat concluded.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a scathing televised commentary on Saturday, Kuvan Ezzat, veteran journalist and political commentator at Kurdistan24, condemned Iraqi militia leader Qais al-Khazali for actively working to undermine the Kurdistan Region’s financial stability. Ezzat accused Khazali of executing external agendas designed to withhold public employee salaries in Kurdistan—a tactic he described as an “economic crime.”
Ezzat, widely respected for his outspoken defense of the Kurdistan Region and its people’s legitimate rights, called out Khazali for his role in steering the federal government’s discriminatory policies toward Kurdistan. Known for his unwavering support for social justice, Ezzat remains a popular figure across the region, admired for giving voice to the Kurdish people's frustrations with Baghdad’s repeated violations of constitutional and humanitarian principles.
“Someone like Qais al-Khazali—who has been instrumental in forming outlawed armed groups in Iraq—cannot tolerate the economic progress unfolding in the Kurdistan Region,” Ezzat declared.
“Khazali and his like-minded factions hold a deeply chauvinistic mindset that refuses to accept the Kurds as equal partners in Iraq,” he added.
Ezzat accused Khazali and allied political forces of deliberately sabotaging Iraq’s unity to maintain control over smuggling operations, corruption rings, and illicit revenue flows.
“Their objective is clear: to destabilize Iraq’s political landscape so they can prolong their grip on corruption, smuggling networks, and illicit power structures,” Ezzat stated.
He further emphasized that Khazali has never believed in the federal principles enshrined in the Iraqi constitution, nor in the fair distribution of national wealth. “His hostility toward the Kurdistan Region is nothing new—it has always echoed decisions influenced by foreign agendas outside Iraq,” Ezzat said.
“These same factions are directly responsible for the illegal and unconstitutional move to withhold the salaries of public employees in the Kurdistan Region,” he noted, placing direct blame on Khazali and his political allies for the ongoing salary crisis.
“If justice truly exists in Baghdad, then Khazali and his ideological allies must be held accountable for this economic crime against the people of Kurdistan,” Ezzat concluded.
🎙 Veteran Kurdish Journalist Kuvan Ezzat Speaks Out Against Qais al-Khazali’s Hostility Toward Kurdistan Region!
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) June 1, 2025
🔷In a powerful televised statement, Kurdistan24 News Anchor and political commentator Kuvan Ezzat condemned Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, for… pic.twitter.com/buLvmE8zYB
Who Is Qais al-Khazali?
Qais al-Khazali is the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, a U.S.-designated terrorist group with close ideological and operational ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He is widely considered one of Tehran’s most loyal proxies in Iraq and has frequently been accused of receiving direct orders from Iranian officials to advance Iran’s geopolitical interests in the country—often at the expense of Iraq’s sovereignty and stability.
Khazali’s militia has a long track record of orchestrating attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq, particularly during the American military presence following the 2003 freedom operations. His group has also been implicated in attacks on Iraqi civil society activists and is deeply involved in oil smuggling operations that fund parallel economies and destabilize national markets.
In addition to his militia activities, Khazali has wielded enormous influence over Baghdad’s political decision-making, pressuring Iraqi leaders through fear, coercion, and behind-the-scenes deals. His interference has significantly undermined institutional independence and contributed to Baghdad’s failure to fulfill constitutional obligations toward the Kurdistan Region—especially concerning fair budget allocations and federal revenue sharing.
Critics, including Ezzat, argue that as long as figures like Khazali remain powerful in Baghdad, Iraq will remain hostage to sectarian politics, external influence, and economic sabotage targeting the Kurdistan Region.
