Peregraf
The recent decision to release suspects accused of arson in the markets of Erbil, Duhok, and Kirkuk has raised significant concerns within the Turkmen community of Kirkuk. They are calling upon Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani and Judiciary Chief Fayeq Zaidan to reconsider this ruling.
On November 5, 2024, the Central Criminal Court in Baghdad, operating under the Rassafa Court of Appeal, acquitted the three suspects due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The individuals—Hunar Fakhreddin Ahmad, Mohammed Najat Hassan, and Sirwan Hussein Mohammed—were initially detained by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi security forces on allegations of igniting fires in the marketplaces.
This acquittal stands in stark contrast to earlier statements from both the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi Interior Ministries, which had previously categorized the suspects as "criminals" during a joint press briefing prior to the trial.
In response to the court's ruling, Hassan Turan, the leader of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, expressed his astonishment at the release, asserting that the suspects were implicated in numerous fires across Kirkuk, Erbil, and Duhok. Turan cautioned that the Rassafa Court’s decision to release the accused—whose case was transferred to the Kirkuk Court of Appeal without clear justification—poses a threat to the security of Kirkuk. He argued that this could encourage similar actions in the future, as it may suggest that alleged terrorist organizations, such as the PKK, can operate without fear of repercussions.
Turan urged the head of the Supreme Judicial Council and the public prosecutor to revisit the decision and reassess the case, citing what he referred to as a confession, which he deemed “the best evidence.”
In a similar vein, Turkmen MP Arshad al-Salihi, who represents Kirkuk in the Iraqi parliament, expressed his disappointment in a video statement. He highlighted that the Iraqi Interior Ministry had previously identified the suspects as responsible for the arson and called for accountability from the prime minister, the judiciary head, and the interior minister.
On July 1, 2024, the Iraqi Interior Ministry, in collaboration with the KRG, disclosed the results of a joint investigation concerning the fires that occurred in Erbil, Kirkuk, and Duhok. Miqdad Miri, the spokesman for the Interior Ministry, indicated that suspects were arrested during operations in Kirkuk and Diyala, which were conducted to dismantle a network purportedly aiming to undermine local economies and incite discord between the populace and the government.
During the same press conference, the director of the KRG Interior Ministry’s office in Baghdad accused the PKK of being behind these incidents, highlighting that the arrested individuals had affiliations with the PKK, the anti-terrorism unit of the PUK, and the 70th Peshmerga unit. Mirani asserted, “The network sought to inflict severe damage on the economies of cities within both the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.”
In contrast, the PKK has repeatedly refuted these claims. In a statement, the organization characterized the arson allegations as unfounded and emphasized its historical commitment to protecting these cities. “We have made sacrifices for these regions and would never cause them harm. We trust the people of Iraq and Kurdistan, who have witnessed our dedication firsthand,” the statement declared.
From January to May 2024, seven major fires ravaged busy suburban markets, with five occurring in Erbil, one in Duhok, and one in Kirkuk, leading to the destruction of hundreds of shops and incurring damages totaling millions of dollars.