EU criticizes Iraqi Kurdistan over governance and human rights

Masrour Barzani, caretaker Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 2025. Photo: iKurd.net/K24

BRUSSELS,— The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has released its 2025 Country of Origin Information (COI) report on Iraq, identifying serious human rights and governance challenges across the country, including the Kurdistan Region.

According to the report, journalists, political activists, civil servants, protesters, and other groups face systematic harassment and intimidation, highlighting weaknesses in the rule of law and the protection of civil liberties.

The report sharply criticizes the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for its treatment of political opponents and human rights defenders.

EUAA officials noted that journalists, dissidents, and activists frequently face arbitrary detention, legal pressure, and harassment, creating a chilling effect on public debate and political activism in the region.

The report also points to a lack of judicial independence in the Kurdistan Region. Power remains concentrated in the executive branch, which the EUAA says allows violations of civil liberties to occur with limited accountability.

Complaints against authorities are rarely investigated, leaving victims with few options for legal redress.

Public protests have been another area of concern. In May 2025, disputes between the KRG and Baghdad over revenue transfers sparked widespread demonstrations by public sector workers, including teachers, protesting delayed salaries.

The EUAA report said Kurdish authorities were accused of suppressing these protests, noting that the rights of public employees to peacefully demonstrate were inadequately protected.

Political disagreements between the KRG and Baghdad over revenue sharing and constitutional obligations have also added pressure on ordinary citizens and civil servants.

The EUAA described the KRG’s handling of these disputes as contributing to regional instability.

At the national level, Iraq continues to face persistent human rights and governance challenges. The EUAA report highlights threats to civil liberties, particularly targeting journalists, human rights activists, political opposition members, and protesters.

Armed groups and militias operate with near impunity in some areas, and citizens often face little protection from violence or intimidation.

The Iraqi government’s response to these security threats is described as inconsistent, allowing non-state actors to exert significant influence over local governance.

Corruption and mismanagement of public resources remain widespread, while internally displaced persons frequently struggle to access housing, healthcare, and education, according to the report.

Freedom of assembly and expression is also under pressure nationwide. Protesters challenging government policies or corruption are at risk of arrest, harassment, and violent suppression.

Economic challenges, including high unemployment and dependence on oil revenues, further fuel public dissatisfaction and social unrest, adding to governance concerns.

The EUAA’s report concludes that urgent reforms are needed both in the Kurdistan Region and at the national level.

Authorities are urged to strengthen judicial independence, protect civil liberties, and improve security for all citizens. Without such reforms, the report warns, political repression and human rights violations are likely to continue, deepening instability across Iraq.

The full 2025 report from the European Union Agency for Asylum.