Kurdish party Tavgari Azadi denies PKK links after Iraq dissolution

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The Kurdistan Society’s Freedom Movement (Tavgari Azadi) firmly rejected claims of any association with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), condemning Baghdad’s decision to dissolve the party over alleged PKK ties as a political stratagem.

The Iraqi judiciary’s electoral body recently decreed the dissolution and closure of three political entities, including Tavgari Azadi, citing purported connections to the PKK, a Kurdish militant group banned in Iraq earlier this year.

During a press conference in Sulaimani, Tara Hussein, co-chair of Tavgari Azadi, denounced the decision as “illegal,” emphasizing that the party operates independently and is not affiliated with the PKK.

“We were not informed in advance about any case against our party, denying us the chance to defend ourselves,” Hussein asserted. “Neither the Kurdistan Workers’ Party nor any other entity directs us. We maintain complete independence.”

Hussein suggested that the court had been fed “false information” and hinted at possible “foreign interference” in the matter. “We seek a reconsideration of this ruling if feasible,” she added.

The judicial decision followed a request from the party and political organization affairs directorate at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).

The request aimed to dissolve the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ), the Democratic Struggle Front, and Tavgari Azadi, accusing them of PKK affiliations and engaging in banned activities in Iraq.

The court ordered the dissolution of these parties, the closure of their offices, and the confiscation of their assets, as documented by the Supreme Judicial Council.

The Yazidi party seeks review of Judicial Council Decision.

Sulaiman Haji, a member of the Politburo for the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ) and representative for Sulaimani region, emphasized the party’s commitment to legal processes. He stated, “We urge the Judicial Council to reassess its recent decision. Our party was established in 2017 under the Iraqi Political Parties Law, and our statute aligns with Article 40. We have participated in three electoral cycles in Iraq, conducting all our activities in accordance with the law. To date, we have not faced any allegations of illegality, and our leadership has consistently been chosen by the people.”

In 1984, the PKK initiated an armed struggle against the Turkish government, which continues to deny the constitutional recognition of the Kurdish people.

The Kurdish minority, comprising over 22.5 million individuals within Turkey’s population of 84 million, seeks greater autonomy in the region often referred to as Turkish Kurdistan.

This prolonged conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

The PKK primarily targets Turkish military installations and government security sites, making concerted efforts to minimize civilian casualties.

For years, the PKK has set up strongholds in the rough borderlands of Iraqi Kurdistan. In reaction, Turkey has carried out numerous airstrikes targeting suspected PKK sites in both Iraq and the Kurdistan region.

The Turkish military operations have been supported by the KDP, the party that governs Iraqi Kurdistan. The KDP, led by the Barzani family, stands against the PKK and has close ties with the Turkish government and President Erdogan.

Iraqi Kurdistan continues to be politically and geographically divided between two major parties. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Massoud Barzani, governs the Erbil and Duhok regions, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), headed by the Talabani family, controls Sulaimani. This division has resulted in a fragmented governance structure in the region.