ERBIL,— Abdul Karim Sultan Sinjari, also known as Karim Sinjari (Shingali), a senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official who served as Interior Minister and later as Chief of Staff to the President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, died Tuesday at age 75, Rudaw TV reported.
Born in 1950 in Shingal, Sinjari began his career as a Peshmerga fighter during the September and Gulan uprisings.
He held key positions in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including General Director of Security from 1993 to 1994 and Interior Minister across four successive cabinets.
Sinjari graduated from Baghdad University in 1971 with a degree in law and political science and worked as a lawyer in Baghdad until 1973.
In early 2022, he went abroad for medical treatment and returned mid-year, remaining under medical supervision. Nechirvan Barzani, who is still in office as President of the Kurdistan Region, was serving at that time.
During his tenure as Interior Minister from 2006 to 2019, Sinjari faced significant criticism.
During his long tenure as Interior Minister, Sinjari faced significant criticism. Observers and human rights groups say he enabled corruption and suppressed dissent.
Despite his powerful role, he reportedly failed to act against widespread financial misconduct and abuse of power in government institutions.
Critics say he ignored the sudden increase in wealth among officials and did not hold security forces accountable for detaining, assaulting, and even killing journalists and protesters.
His ministry was accused of lacking transparency and ignoring repeated human rights violations.
Many point to Sinjari’s loyalty to the KDP leadership, particularly President Nechirvan Barzani, suggesting he prioritized party interests over constitutional duties. Reports also describe him as a multi-millionaire, raising questions about the sources of his wealth.
His silence and inaction amid ongoing abuses have led to speculation that he was either complicit, negligent, or protecting the political status quo.
Sinjari’s death ends a career marked by senior government roles and controversy.
(With files from Rudaw | Agencies)
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