Rights Body Slams 'Military Display' in Sulaimani Arrests, Questions Use of Heavy Weapons

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region (ICHRKR) has issued a sharp condemnation of the methods used in a major security operation in Sulaimani, stating that the use of counter-terrorism forces and heavy weaponry to execute an arrest warrant was an inappropriate "military display" that sowed fear among the public.

The commission’s statement emphasized that the police, not other forces, are the legally mandated entity for implementing such judicial orders, and it raised serious concerns about the treatment of the arrested individuals and the operation's negative impact on the region's reputation.

The forceful critique from the rights body came in response to a turbulent night of clashes on Friday, which culminated in the arrest of Lahur Sheikh Jangi, his brother Polad, and another individual. In its message, the commission detailed how various security forces, equipped with both light and heavy weapons, converged on the Lalezar area, the residence of the wanted individuals.

"On the night of 22-8-2025, with the aim of arresting several wanted individuals named (L, J, B), (P, J, B), and (R, H, Gh), various security forces with light and heavy weapons gathered and entered the area known as Lalezar," the statement read. The commission noted that this led to "a fierce confrontation and a four-hour battle" that continued until 8 a.m., resulting in deaths and injuries. The incident, it said, "created great unrest in the city of Sulaimani and worried the people of the area, spreading fear and anxiety."

While fully supporting the implementation of court decisions, the commission unequivocally rejected the manner in which this operation was conducted. It pointed out a critical procedural discrepancy, stating, "the implementing force for the arrest warrant is the police, not counter-terrorism forces and other forces." It lamented that, "unfortunately, various forces and light and heavy weapons were used in this incident," specifying that the use of "tanks, Doshkas, and heavy weapons... is more like a military display and will have a bad reflection on the reputation of the region."

Furthermore, the commission raised concerns about the post-arrest procedures, noting that according to legal protocol, accused individuals must be taken to official detention and transfer centers, "not to another place or party headquarters."

The human rights body also expressed profound concern over the public portrayal of the arrested individuals. It noted that some security forces took videos and photos during the arrests, which were later broadcast by media outlets showing the handcuffed individuals and referring to them as "captives."

The commission underscored a fundamental legal and human rights principle: "the accused is innocent until the crime is decided and proven against them by the court, and it is not permitted, for the sake of human dignity, for such a situation to be displayed."

The events that drew the commission's condemnation unfolded over a tense 12-hour period. As reported by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) media outlets on Friday morning, the security operation concluded with PUK forces seizing control of the Lalezar Hotel—Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s main headquarters—and arresting him and his brother.

The resolution came after armed men affiliated with him surrendered, ending a night of heavy gunfire that had transformed parts of the city, especially the Sarchnar neighborhood, into a conflict zone.

The legal justification for the operation was established hours earlier when judicial and police authorities in Sulaimani confirmed an arrest warrant had been issued for Lahur Sheikh Jangi and "several other suspects."

Brigadier General Aram Mohammed Salih, the Director of Sulaimani Provincial Police, affirmed the warrant was issued by the Sulaimani Asayish Directorate under Article 56 of the amended Iraqi Penal Code, which pertains to criminal agreements and acts that harm public security. Judge Salah Hassan, Deputy President of the Sulaimani Court, corroborated this, providing the official basis for the subsequent raid.

Following the announcement, a large PUK force, equipped with tanks and armored vehicles, deployed after midnight and moved towards the Lalezar Hotel through the city's deserted streets. As the forces converged, Lahur Sheikh Jangi released a defiant video message from the hotel rooftop, which he called his last. In it, he accused the PUK of being "corrupt and treacherous" and vowed not to submit to any "tyrannical" force.

The tense standoff erupted into open conflict shortly after dawn. A Kurdistan24 correspondent reported that PUK forces began their attack on the hotel using heavy weapons, with the sound of intense gunfire echoing across Sarchnar. Residents in the vicinity were warned to evacuate as rockets were reportedly fired at the building.

The confrontation widened in scope when, according to reports, the headquarters of the PUK's Force 70 Command was attacked by a bomb-laden drone, and another drone crashed near the home of PUK leader Bafel Talabani.

As the violence escalated, high-level officials urged calm. Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir issued a public message stating, "Conflict and confrontation do not solve any problem; they only complicate problems and delay solutions," and expressed regret that peaceful mechanisms had received minimal support. Similarly, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called for restraint, cautioning that the turmoil posed a serious threat to the region's stability and insisting that "any tensions and disagreements must be resolved through legal means, not through violence."

After hours of fighting, PUK media announced the operation's end and the arrests. The city, however, remained on high alert, with streets largely empty and a heavy security presence in the Sarchnar area. The clashes are the latest chapter in a long-running internal PUK power struggle that saw Lahur Sheikh Jangi, a former co-president of the party, formally expelled in November 2021 after his cousin, Bafel Talabani, consolidated control. Since then, Lahur has founded a new political party, the People’s Front, drawing support from his loyalists. The violent nature of his arrest has now raised significant legal and human rights questions, placing the methods of the security forces under intense scrutiny.