UN Sounds Alarm Over Detainee Abuse After Deadly Clashes in Sulaimani
"We reiterate our call for the respect of human rights and due process, including for those taken in custody during these events," UNAMI wrote on its official X account.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has strongly condemned "disturbing footage showing the mistreatment of detainees" following last Friday’s violent clashes in Sulaimani. In a statement issued late Monday via X, the UN reiterated its call for strict adherence to human rights and due process for all those taken into custody during the unrest.
The clashes erupted following a dramatic overnight raid on the Lalazar Hotel, where Kurdish opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani—founder of the People’s Front and former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—was staying. The operation, allegedly executed under a court-issued arrest warrant, quickly spiraled into an armed confrontation as Talabani’s loyalists resisted his detention.
The intense firefight between security forces and armed supporters resulted in at least five deaths—three security personnel and two from Talabani’s ranks—and left more than 18 others wounded, including bystanders caught in the crossfire.
UNAMI’s statement expressed deep concern over civilian safety and emphasized the need for restraint, fair judicial procedures, and immediate protection of detainee rights in line with constitutional principles.
"We reiterate our call for the respect of human rights and due process, including for those taken in custody during these events," UNAMI wrote on its official X account.
Disturbing footage of detainees being mistreated after their arrest following the recent clashes in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We reiterate our call for the respect of human rights and due process, including for those taken in custody during these events. pic.twitter.com/DfGCGR6p1m
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) August 25, 2025
Lahur Talabani, once a key figure within the PUK and recognized for his counterterrorism leadership, had been marginalized from power following a bitter internal party struggle in 2021. He subsequently launched the People’s Front, maintaining a strong local base in Sulaimani.
In the early hours of August 22, security forces raided the Lalazar Hotel to arrest Talabani under charges of destabilizing regional security. He reportedly refused to surrender, triggering a fast escalation into armed conflict that spread through central streets and traumatized residents.
Amid heavy gunfire, explosions, and drone activity, authorities secured the area, detained Talabani and his brother, and moved them along with several associates to undisclosed locations for interrogation. Checkpoints were tightened, and the city gradually returned to a fragile calm later that day.
According to local media, the violence claimed five lives in total and injured many more. However, Kurdistan24 sources reported that the number of killed personnel on both sides is much higher than what has been announced.
Authorities pledged to restore damaged parts of the city and compensate affected residents. The health toll included fighters and innocent bystanders. Talabani was initially detained under Article 56 of the Iraqi Penal Code (criminal conspiracy) and now reportedly faces charges including premeditated murder. Concerns surrounding the fairness of his case's judicial proceedings are mounting.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister's Office has characterized the deadly clashes in Sulaimani’s Lalazar area as a confrontation between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) forces and the People’s Front. According to the office, the Presidency of the Regional Government was not aware of the operation until the final moments of the siege.
While the statement expressed deep concern and sorrow over the resulting casualties and injuries, it stressed that, despite the Prime Minister’s efforts to prevent the conflict, the attack went ahead. The office called for law to prevail over partisan actions, urging that violence and unrest must no longer threaten the stability of the Kurdistan Region.
On Monday, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also condemned the August 22 clashes in Sulaimani, urging calm and respect for the rule of law. In a statement, the party’s Politburo described the violence as a source of deep concern for both the city’s residents and the wider Kurdistan Region, stressing that disputes must be resolved through dialogue rather than force.
The KDP emphasized that Kurdistan is a constitutional entity founded on sacrifice and lawful institutions, warning that any actions threatening stability, coexistence, and the Region’s reputation should be firmly rejected.
The Presidency of the Public Prosecutor in the Kurdistan Region has also stepped in, assigning the Sulaimani prosecutor’s office to investigate the deadly August 21–22 clashes and issuing a stern warning to the executive authority to abide by legal and constitutional principles.
In a strongly worded statement, the presidency emphasized that no one is above the law and that the protection of citizens’ lives, dignity, and freedoms must remain paramount when executing judicial decisions. It cautioned that the enforcement of court orders should never result in chaos, unrest, or property damage, underscoring the judiciary’s role in safeguarding rights and maintaining the rule of law.