Biggest media and political lies in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2025

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Throughout 2025, Kurdish media outlets and politicians in Iraqi Kurdistan circulated numerous false reports and lies. iKurd documented some of these, providing the headlines and corresponding links.

• Masrour Barzani’s visit to Cairo has a major strategic dimension 22.12.2025
  توێژەرێکی میسری: سەردانی مەسرور بارزانی بۆ قاهیرە، ڕەهەندی ستراتیژیی گەورەى هەیە
  https://www.basnews.com/so/babat/902194
  According to reports, Masrour Barzani is seeking new countries in which to invest wealth derived from Kurdistan’s oil, as U.S. authorities are closely monitoring transfers of Barzani-linked funds to the United States. This scrutiny follows multiple lawsuits alleging that he concealed assets through a network of companies. As a result, Barzani is reportedly shifting his focus to the UAE and other Gulf states to move or shelter his money.
• Masrour Barzani Meets KDP Women Leaders, Reaffirms Support for Greater Role in Party 24.9.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/865559/kdp-vice-president-masrour-barzani-meets-kdp-women-leaders-reaffirms-support-for-greater-role-in-party
  Observers and critics argue that Kurdish women under the Barzani rule lack genuine rights in Kurdistan, and that references to women’s rights are purely symbolic.
• “President” Massoud Barzani is a source of trust and a strong Kurdish woman’s force: Amina Zakari 16.9.2025 ئامینە زکری: سەرۆک بارزانی سەرچاوەی باوەڕ و هێزی ئافرەتی کوردە
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/ckb/story/863928…
  Massoud is a Kurdish women force!! The entire Barzani family keeps their wives and female relatives out of public view. No women have real political power in Iraqi Kurdistan.
• Kurdish forces spot ISIS fighters in Makhmour: Commander 10.11.2025
  https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/101120252
  Observers say the Barzani administration has been spreading false information about an ISIS threat in Kurdistan to get weapons from the West. These weapons were later used against Kurdish protesters, as happened in Lajan village in Khabat district in late November 2025.
• KDP VP Masrour Barzani: Only KDP Can Defend Kurdish Rights in Iraqi Parliament 3.11.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/873021/kdp-vp-masrour-barzani-only-kdp-can-defend-kurdish-rights-in-iraqi-parliament
  Critics say that the Barzanis and their KDP party present themselves as the only true patriots and act as if they have a monopoly on Kurdish patriotism.
• PM Barzani Steps In to Save Sulaimani’s Newroz SC from Collapse 2.11.2025
• https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/872985/pm-barzani-steps-in-to-save-sulaimanis-newroz-sc-from-collapse
  The Barzanis spend money taken from Kurdish oil, which belongs to the Kurdish people, and then donate a portion of it while pretending it comes from their own pockets. Observers and critics routinely ask: where does their wealth, worth billions, actually come from?
• Bafel Talabani Vows to Fight Corruption, Revive Economy, and Defend All Communities at Erbil Rally 1.11.2025
  https://channel8.com/english/news/47737
  All Kurdish leaders claim to be fighting corruption, but critics say it’s like thieves shouting to catch a thief.
• Kurdistan24 Marks a Decade as a Trusted Voice in Journalism, Championing Truth and Integrity: Barzani 31.10.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/872597/kurdistan24-marks-a-decade-as-a-trusted-voice-in-journalism-championing-truth-and-integrity
  According to observers, Kurdistan24, owned by Masrour Barzani, is widely regarded as one of the most untrustworthy news outlets, always praising the Barzanis and spreading misinformation about their rivals.
• Barzani: Yazidis Are a Beloved and Inseparable Part of Kurdistan’s People 6.10.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/867740/president-barzani-yazidis-are-a-beloved-and-inseparable-part-of-kurdistans-people
  Massoud Barzani is regarded by many Yazidis and critics as a key factor in the 2014 genocide against the Yazidis, as he withdrew his Peshmerga militias from the Yazidi-populated Sinjar region just before the ISIS attack, leaving the Yazidi civilians vulnerable to mass killings.
• PM Barzani Highlights KRG Achievements, Urges Youth Empowerment at TEDxNishtiman 5.10.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/867604/pm-barzani-highlights-krg-achievements-urges-youth-empowerment-at-tedxnishtiman
• Barzani: The Yazidi Genocide Is a Pain We Will Never Forget 3.8.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/855527/president-barzani-yazidis-targeted-for-their-kurdish-identity-and-religious-beliefs
  Massoud Barzani is often cited as a central figure in the 2014 Yazidi genocide, as he pulled his Peshmerga forces out of the Sinjar region just before the ISIS attack, leaving Yazidi civilians defenseless.
• Director of electricity production: We will be able to export electricity next year 27.7.2025
  https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/business/27072025
• A Kurdish woman Berivan Aslan elected Mayor of the city of Trencin, Slovakia July 2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/tr/story/853834 | K24 https://www.instagram.com/p/DMf-NPUMMq1/
  The 23-year-old Berivan Aslan, who is originally from Batman Kozluklu, was elected Mayor of the city of Trencin, Slovakia. Aslan, who previously served as vice president, was appointed after the resignation of the president. Aslan, who speaks Kurdish, Slovak, French and Italian, has become the youngest mayor of the country.
  A lie: There is no mayor by that name in Trencin; the name doesn’t exist at all.
  The official website of Trencin in English- knows nothing about this
  

Kurdistan24 claimed this. I thought you guys should know
byu/alpguvenn inSlovakia

• ‘Kurdistan Has the Right,’ PM Barzani Defends Energy Deals on Fox News 24.5.2025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/842054/pm-masrour-barzanis-exclusive-interview-with-fox-news
• France praises Kurdistan Region’s ‘democratic’ institutions 24.4.2025
  https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/230420253
• Kurdistan Region leaders commemorate Kurdish Journalism Day 22.4.2025
• https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/22042025
  Kurdistan is a hell for journalists under Barzani’s rule, international observers say.
• Barzani Urges Professionalism in Media on Kurdish Journalism Day 22.4.2025
  https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/881507
  Kurdistan is a hell for journalists under Barzani’s rule, international observers say.
  
• ‘Kurdish Journalism a Tool for Our Just Cause,’ Says Massoud Barzani 22.42025
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/836358/kurdish-journalism-a-tool-for-our-just-cause-says-president-barzani
  Consider the number of Kurdish journalists and activists imprisoned under Barzani’s authority. There is no freedom of the press, nor the right to demonstrate or protest, in Erbil and other areas of Kurdistan controlled by Barzani.

• 

  PM Barzani Reaffirms Support for Press Freedom on Kurdish Journalism Day 22.4.2025
  https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/881475

• Korek CEO slams Iraq decision to cut internet services as ‘political’ Feb 19, 2025
  https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/19022025
• Korek to pay $1.25 billion to lift telecom restrictions: Iraqi commission Oct 16, 2024
  https://www.rudaw.net/english/business/16102024
• Kurdistan to Have ‘Unified’ Peshmerga Force by 2026: General Babikir Zebari, military adviser to the Kurdistan Region 21.2.2025
  https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/875822
  It’s really a joke, by all means, analysts say.
• Massoud Barzani Highlights the Role of Women in Kurdish Society at Historic Conference April 2025
  https://kurdishglobe.krd/president-barzani-highlights-the-role-of-women-in-kurdish-society-at-historic-conference/
• President Massoud Barzani Honors Kurdistan’s Women on Women’s Day
  https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/828570/president-barzani-honors-kurdistans-women-on-womens-day
  The entire Barzani family keeps their wives and female relatives out of public view. No women have real political power in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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