A strike by teachers and civil servants over delayed salaries in Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) in Iraqi Kurdistan has entered its seventh day, with support growing from journalists, activists and fellow educators. Protesters accuse the regional government of financial mismanagement and demand immediate action.
The strike, which began outside the United Nations office in Sulaymaniyah, has seen increasing participation from teachers, administrative staff and civil servants. Protestors argue that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has failed to pay salaries on time, deepening financial hardship in an already struggling economy.
“Supporting striking teachers is a national duty,” said Kemal Hesen Heme Reza, head of a local company, during a visit to the protest site. “This is not just an issue for Sulaymaniyah; it concerns all teachers across Kurdistan.”
The protest has also attracted solidarity from journalists, particularly women reporters from Çapemeniya Azad, a Kurdish independent media organisation. Their delegation visited the strikers, expressing support and criticising the government’s failure to address salary delays.
“The authorities remain unresponsive, while civil servants and teachers are left without salaries for months,” said Dana Ebdul, a spokesperson for the Protest Support Committee. “Public employees deserve economic security, not prolonged uncertainty.”
The striking teachers are demanding the full payment of their December salaries in January’s pay packet. They are also calling for a sustainable salary distribution system and an end to delays, which have become a recurrent issue in the Kurdistan Region.
The strike has sparked wider discontent, with educators in Erbil (Hewlêr) also voicing their frustrations. A group of teachers gathered outside the Kurdistan Communist Party headquarters to demand immediate salary payments and a clear government response.
“Day by day, life is becoming harder, and the government is failing to address people’s grievances,” said one of the striking teachers in Erbil.
Despite mounting pressure, the KRG has yet to offer a concrete resolution. Protesters warn that if their demands are not met, demonstrations will intensify, and more public sector workers may join the movement, further challenging the region’s political and economic stability.
