Bafel Talabani "mentally ill," says KDP's Fazil Mirani

Bafel Talabani mentally ill and in need of treatment says KDPs Fazil Mirani — A composite image of the Executive Head of the KDP’s Politburo, Fazil Mirani, right, and the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK, Bafel Talabani, November 2025. Photo: iKurd.net/with credit to K24, Talabani’s Press Office.

ERBIL,— The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) sharply criticized the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leadership on Saturday, accusing its head, Bafel Talabani, of actions that threaten both party unity and the broader stability of the Kurdistan Region.

Fazil Mirani, Executive Head of the KDP Politburo, went further, saying that Talabani is not of sound mind and is in need of treatment.

Mirani told Kurdistan24 that Talabani’s recent remarks were “shameful and unworthy of a party leader” and that his rise to power was the result of a political coup rather than internal consensus.

“Other Kurdish parties should stand with us and with Kurdistan, not against it,” Mirani said, emphasizing that the KDP remains the “responsible force that holds this nation together.”

Mirani accused the PUK of obstructing government formation and delaying governance to gain political advantage. “The KDP could have formed a government without them, but we chose unity and inclusion. The PUK mistook that goodwill for weakness,” he said.

He also criticized PUK policies for harming the region’s economy and international relations. The suspension of Turkish flights to Sulaimani, Mirani said, was one such example of decisions that caused a crisis, which the KDP then worked to resolve.

The KDP official drew parallels between PUK’s historical actions and current governance. He recalled instances between 1964 and 1970 when the PUK aligned with Baghdad against Kurdish forces. “Those who once rode in Baghdad’s tanks to fight their own people have no moral ground to lecture the KDP or the people of Kurdistan,” he said.

Mirani referenced the PUK’s role in losing key territories in 2017, including Kirkuk, Khanaqin, and Makhmour, contrasting this with 1996 when Kurdish unity prevailed.

After the highly controversial 2017 independence referendum, led by KDP leader and then-president of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, the Kurds returned Kirkuk and all so-called disputed territories between Kurdistan and Iraq to the Iraqi government. Experts widely regard this move as one of the KDP’s most significant mistakes of the past century.

On the management of natural resources, Mirani said Kurdistan’s oil and gas wealth “belongs to all the people of Kurdistan, not to any single party.” He highlighted the KDP’s transparency in distributing revenues for salaries, services, and development across all provinces. “Oil and gas are national assets, not partisan tools,” he said.

The ruling Barzani family in Iraqi Kurdistan has faced repeated accusations of corruption, nepotism and using the region’s oil wealth to enrich themselves rather than serve the public. Critics, including Kurdish politicians, analysts, and ordinary citizens, say many oil projects and deals are handled with little transparency. Some observers describe these transactions as highly secretive.

According to watchdog groups, Kurdish lawmakers, and leaked documents, billions of dollars in oil revenue have gone unaccounted for, raising serious questions about governance and accountability in the region’s oil sector.

He also praised the “Runaki” electricity project as a major achievement addressing the region’s long-standing power shortages, and urged all parties to support development efforts rather than attempt to sabotage them.

After almost three decades under the KDP and the Barzani family’s leadership, the Kurdistan Region still struggles to provide consistent electricity, according to local residents.

Mirani criticized the growing use of disrespectful political rhetoric. “The Kurdish nation is a people of ethics and dignity. Those who resort to rude language should remember that in our culture, we respond with reason and strength,” he said.

The KDP official accused the PUK of continuing a legacy of undermining Kurdish unity. “In Baghdad, our messages are patriotic and defend the rights of Kurdistan; theirs serve only to weaken our national position,” he said.

Regarding Sulaimani, Mirani said the city belongs to its residents, not a political party. He noted that many people have left due to pressure and mismanagement by the PUK, relocating to Erbil for security and opportunity.

In 2016, the current President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, stated that the government buildings in Erbil are not KRG property but belong to the KDP.

Mirani also criticized Talabani’s past actions, citing an incident at the Lalezar Hotel in which tanks and heavy weapons were used, leading to detention and the death of a person later returned to their family. “How can someone responsible for such actions speak of democracy and liberty?” Mirani asked.

The PUK stated that the arrest of Lahur Talabani at the Lalezar Hotel was linked to a planned assassination against PUK leader Bafel Talabani. According to the party, evidence shows that Lahur discussed the alleged plot via WhatsApp, and Bafel Talabani presented this evidence to the Sulaimani court.

The PUK also implicated former Sulaimani Security Council chief Azhi Amin, who fled to areas controlled by the KDP, in the plan. Reports indicate that Masrour Barzani, the Deputy President of the KDP, and his younger brother Waysi Barzani were allegedly involved in planning the attack on Bafel Talabani

The KDP official Mirani reiterated the party’s commitment to development, democracy, and service delivery. “While the KDP builds, the PUK obstructs — yet we will not let their failure stand in the way of Kurdistan’s progress,” he said.

Fazil Mirani in an interview with K24 TV, November 8, 2025. YT.

Mirani urged responsible voices within the PUK to rein in leadership behavior, warning that continued reckless actions could further damage the party and the region. “The KDP remains focused on building a prosperous, united Kurdistan — despite those who wish to see it divided,” he said.

The Barzani family, long at the center of political power in Iraqi Kurdistan, has quietly expanded its wealth far beyond the region, according to documents reviewed by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The cache, obtained in October 2025 and shared with partner organizations, details how five of KDP party president Massoud Barzani’s sons, all senior officials or close to the corridors of power, moved significant sums abroad.

The documents show that the brothers spent at least $100 million in the United States, acquiring luxury homes, commercial real estate, and high-end goods. Much of the spending, OCCRP reports, was channeled through offshore companies and funds linked to Kurdish conglomerates that hold government contracts, raising questions about the intersection of political influence and personal wealth.

PUK Responds to Mirani’s Criticism

Karwan Gaznayi, spokesperson for the PUK, responded to Mirani’s statements on Saturday. Gaznayi said Mirani’s initial comments contained “some reasonable truths,” particularly regarding the PUK’s second deputy leader, but argued that internal party pressures forced him to speak based on personal perception rather than the KDP party’s full position.

Gaznayi described the PUK’s internal policy as intolerant of dissent. “Clearly, today’s party cannot tolerate truthful statements from its responsible members,” he said, adding that Mirani was influenced by a “self-centered faction” within the KDP and PUK politics.

The spokesperson emphasized that party politics sometimes distort truth to protect positions, suggesting that Mirani’s remarks reflected his own understanding rather than official PUK policy.

Gaznayi also noted that the rapid change in Mirani’s statements over a short period illustrated internal pressure and the weakness of factions that do not allow critical perspectives.

He concluded that Mirani’s statements should be viewed in the context of internal party dynamics and pressures rather than as a reflection of PUK leadership policy.

(With files from kurdistan24 | PUK media | channel8 | Agencies)