Leader of Iraqi Kurdistan's Islamic KIU party visits Turkey

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Salahaddin Bahadin, the Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), visited Turkey on Tuesday at the invitation of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the KIU party’s website confirmed.

Bahadin, who heads the KIU, a party with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, announced the trip on his official social media platforms, including Facebook and X.

According to KIU media reports, Bahadin was received by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and Ambassador Ali Reza Gunay, who oversees Iraq-related matters. The two sides reportedly discussed recent political developments in the region, focusing on the protection of national, religious, and sectarian rights for all communities in Iraq and surrounding areas.

The meeting also addressed the broader regional situation, with an emphasis on the political consequences of the ongoing Syrian conflict and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the KIU statement added.

However, the exact nature of the discussions, particularly the specifics of Bahadin’s role in these talks, remains unclear. The party has not disclosed specific details regarding the purpose of the visit.

A former party official, speaking to Voice of America-Kurdish (VOA), stated that Bahadin was likely invited for talks and to answer questions, though no formal statements have been issued on the matter.

A former senior KIU official, now serving as a political advisor, told VOA that the purpose of the visit appeared to be gathering information on regional dynamics.

Mohammad Raouf, a political advisor and former head of the KIU leadership council, explained that Turkey is particularly interested in understanding how Kurdish populations, particularly in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region and Sulaimani governorate, might respond to developments in Syria.

Raouf further noted that Turkey is focusing on ensuring that Kurdish groups in Syria have a significant presence and role in the country’s future, particularly in any new constitutional framework.

He suggested that past discussions had focused on ensuring the rights and representation of Kurds but said that the current dialogue highlighted the importance of Kurdish people both in Syria and in the broader Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

However, Bahadin’s visit has sparked criticism from Kurdish activists, particularly in light of Turkey’s military actions against Kurdish forces in Syrian Kurdistan (Western Kurdistan, Rojava).

Critics argue that the visit appears to align with Turkey’s broader political and military interests in the Syrian Kurdish region, especially given the country’s involvement with pro-Turkey Islamist groups fighting Kurdish forces in Syria.

Osman Golpi, a political advisor, told VOA that the situation in Syria remains volatile, with the potential for further conflict. He warned that political forces must approach the situation carefully and be flexible in response to the changing dynamics. Golpi also expressed concerns that visits like Bahadin’s could be seen as supporting Turkey’s political agenda in the region.

According to experts, Islamist parties and groups prioritize loyalty to Allah and Islam over allegiance to any nation, country, or nationalist ideology. Their primary focus is the advancement of Islam

Turkey has recently intensified its military operations in the Kurdish northern Syria, particularly after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.

On December 9, 2024, Turkish forces, along with Syrian Islamist fighters, captured the city of Manbij from the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). There are ongoing concerns that Turkey may expand its military campaign into other parts of the Kurdish-controlled areas of Syria.

(With files from Kurdish VOA)