An Erbil (Hewlêr) court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the murder of Deniz Cevdet Bülbün, a member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), while the alleged instigator remains unarrested. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the Erbil Criminal Court, which found the men guilty under the Kurdistan Region’s 2014 Anti-Terror Law.
Deniz Cevdet Bülbün was killed in an armed attack on the KNK’s office in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, on 18 September 2023. The attack provoked outrage among Kurdish activists, who blamed the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and its security forces. The court has yet to apprehend the individual accused of orchestrating the murder.
Hejar Kakeyî, the lawyer representing Bülbün’s case, confirmed to Rojnews that while two individuals have been sentenced, the person accused of incitement remains free. “The mastermind behind this crime has not been detained,” Kakeyî stated, emphasising the unresolved aspects of the case.
The killing of Bülbün, who was known for his work in Kurdish cultural and linguistic education, has heightened tensions within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Allegations have emerged accusing the KDP of failing to provide adequate security for Kurdish activists. The KNK’s leadership, including co-chair Ahmed Karamus, has called for accountability and condemned the KDP-controlled security forces’ alleged involvement.
The sentencing of the two men, both Turkish nationals, comes amid broader calls for justice. The Kurdistan Regional Government continues to face pressure from Kurdish groups and Bülbün’s family to ensure a thorough investigation and apprehend all involved.
