Armed youth in Iraqi Kurdistan: a growing concern

Most of the youth in Chamchamal and Penjwen are armed

CHAMCHAMAL,— A growing number of young men in the districts of Chamchamal and Penjwen in Sulaimani province in Iraqi Kurdistan region are carrying weapons, a trend largely driven by high unemployment and economic instability, according to local officials and residents.

Many say they have no choice but to seek work in security forces or border guard positions, as job opportunities in other fields are scarce.

“In these districts, nearly every household has a weapon,” an administrative official told Awene Newspaper. “It has become a way of life, whether for personal protection or out of necessity.”

Penjwen: A Border Town with Few Opportunities

Penjwen, a district in Sulaimani province bordering Iranian Kurdistan, has seen a steady rise in the number of armed youth. According to local estimates, at least 2,000 young men in the district are engaged in armed activities.

The region’s economy revolves around trade, particularly through the Bashmakh border crossing, yet many young people say they have been left out of these economic benefits.

Kaywan Ata, 25, is among those hoping to secure a job as a border guard. “Most of my cousins and relatives are in the security forces, police, Peshmerga (Kurdish militias affiliated with the ruling parties), or are simply armed,” he said.

“There are no real job opportunities for young people here, so they look for work in security. Many use personal connections to get hired because there are so few openings.”

The problem, he said, extends to rural villages as well. “Even in the small villages, young people apply to become border guards because at least the Iraqi government provides salaries for them,” he added.

“We all finished our education, but there are no jobs.”

Despite the economic activity at the Bashmakh border, local youth say they see little benefit from the trade. Agriculture and manual labor are still available, but they do not pay enough to support a family. As a result, many turn to armed roles.

Military commander Delawer Haji Osman, who is originally from Penjwen, noted that young people carrying weapons is nothing new but that the reasons have changed over time.

“In the past, we were motivated by ideology. We wanted to bring change, fight for Kurdish rights, or resist oppression. Today, young people carry weapons more for financial reasons,” he said.

He believes that the government and local authorities must take action. “These young people need to be redirected toward positive social causes and given proper employment opportunities. Otherwise, this trend will continue,” he warned.

Penjwen District Governor Hemin Ibrahim Rahman agrees that unemployment is the biggest driver of armed activity.

“Many of these young men have high academic qualifications, but they can’t find jobs. There hasn’t been an equal distribution of opportunities, and many have resorted to carrying weapons,” he told Awene.

He also mentioned that security appointments are often made without his input. “For the past decade, no police officers were officially appointed in Penjwen. Many of these young men wanted to become police officers, but instead, they were hired as border guards or security personnel through personal connections,” he said.

Chamchamal: “No House Without a Weapon”

Chamchamal, another district in Sulaimani province, has a long history of armed activity. Residents say weapons have become a staple in local households.

“There is no house in Chamchamal without a weapon, and at night, you often hear gunfire,” said Shvan Ahmed, a young man from the district.

He explained that carrying a weapon has been part of his life since childhood. “My father and uncles were well-known figures at the border, and they always had weapons for self-defense. I grew up around guns, and when I couldn’t find another job, I joined a security force,” he said.

Chamchamal has been a key location in past conflicts, particularly during the Kurdish uprising and in battles against the former Iraqi regime. Local officials say this history has played a role in normalizing the presence of weapons in homes.

Chamchamal has also become a site of domestic violence and youth-related conflicts. Domestic killings and violent disputes between young people and their families have occurred with alarming frequency in recent years. Armed youth often engage in violent clashes, both within families and among peers, with firearms playing a key role in these conflicts.

Hawta Aziz, director of the Shorsh subdistrict in Chamchamal, pointed out that armed culture is deeply rooted in the district’s history.

“During the 1990s, this area was heavily involved in conflicts. Later, it became a battlefield against Iraqi forces. As a result, people always felt the need to defend themselves,” he told Awene Newspaper.

Economic hardship has also contributed to the prevalence of weapons. “Many businesses and factories shut down due to security instability.

With no jobs available, young men turned to the security forces, Peshmerga, or police. This led to a situation where nearly every household has at least one weapon,” Aziz explained.

However, he noted that in recent years, some progress has been made. “More young people are turning to the legal system instead of relying on weapons. Over the past two years, we have seen a decline in armed activity,” he said.

While some local officials acknowledge efforts to curb armed activity, many residents remain skeptical. “Until there are stable jobs, young men will continue carrying weapons,” said one resident of Chamchamal. “It’s not a choice—it’s a necessity.”

70% of Residents in Iraqi Kurdistan Own Weapons

Highlighting the broader issue of weapon ownership in the Kurdistan Region, officials have stated that an alarming percentage of the population possesses firearms. “70 percent of Kurdistan region residents have weapons,” Tavga Omer, the general director of legal affairs for the Kurdistan region parliament’s human rights committee, said in 2021. “The existence of a law alone doesn’t really solve the issue.”

According to the 1993 weapons ownership law, Article 6 allows any person over 18 years old, who is a permanent resident of the Kurdistan region and has no criminal record or history of mental illness, to legally carry a weapon. However, despite this legal framework, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has struggled to regulate and reduce the number of privately owned firearms.

The region is known to have a number of black markets where firearms can be purchased, including high-caliber sniper rifles and machine guns, further complicating efforts to bring control to gun ownership. These markets contribute to the widespread availability of weapons, exacerbating concerns about security and public safety.

Tavga Omer stressed the challenges in controlling weapon ownership, acknowledging that enforcement of the law has been ineffective in curbing the high rate of privately owned firearms. “Without proper regulation and enforcement, the problem persists, and the general public continues to carry weapons,” he stated.

(With files from Awene | Rudaw | Agencies)