ERBIL,—Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research permanently dismissed Dr. Abdul Latif Ahmad, a lecturer at the University of Sulaimani also known as Abdullatif Salafi, on Wednesday after completing an investigation into sexual misconduct claims.
The ministry’s official decision cited Article 8 of the Discipline for State and Public Sector Employee Law, which provides the most severe disciplinary action allowed under Iraqi public service regulations.
The ruling imposed what is formally called “Azl,” an Arabic term meaning dismissal, on the Islamic Salafi figure and academic.
The penalty removes Salafi from his position in the Department of Islamic Sciences and permanently blocks him from working in any government institution in the future.
The case developed over several weeks after audio recordings and text messages purportedly involving Salafi were shared online.
Following the publication of those materials, the University of Sulaimani set up a committee to investigate the matter.
Students from the College of Islamic Sciences told investigators that Salafi reached out to them using his personal phone, asked them for photos, and shared inappropriate images with them. Formal complaints were submitted by multiple students.
Salafi, who holds a prominent role as leader of the Salafi movement in the Kurdistan Region, rejected the claims entirely. He called the recordings slander and maintained that the voice in them did not belong to him.
Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Higher Education Aram Qadir stated in late June that he was in the process of reviewing the initial findings from the university’s investigative committee.
The controversy began in early June when UK-based activist Bilal Mahmood, known publicly as Yaxi, released audio and video materials he said were handed to him by four female students connected to Salafi.
Investigators worked to determine whether the recordings were genuine or had been modified or produced through artificial intelligence tools.
The incident is not the first time Salafi has faced public scrutiny. In 2016, recorded private conversations between him and one of his students became widely circulated and drew strong public criticism at the time.
Following that episode, the student ended her marriage and later wed Salafi.
Salafi Vows to Appeal Dismissal
Salafi said Wednesday that he plans to appeal a decision by the region’s higher education ministry to permanently remove him from his teaching position and ban him from future public-sector employment.
In a recorded video statement, Salafi rejected the ruling and said he does not accept it.
“This decision means nothing to me,” he said. “Any decision that is not based on law, Sharia, and justice has no value.”
Salafi also denied the allegations, claiming they were part of a coordinated effort by people who oppose him both personally and because of his beliefs.
(With files from Rudaw)
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