“Our party has participated in elections three times and has always operated within the framework of Iraq’s party laws,” said Suleiman Haji, a member of the political office and the representative of the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ) in Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) on Wednesday after the closure of three Kurdish political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan on Tuesday.
On 6 August, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in Shengal (Sinjar), Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council announced the closure of three Kurdish political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan (KRI) under Act No. 32. The affected parties are the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ), the Kurdistan Society Freedom Movement (Tevgera Azadî), and the Party of the Democratic Struggle (PTD). The council cited alleged affiliations with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as the reason for the closures.
In response, PADÊ and the European Yazidi community issued strong protests against the ruling. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the democratic society model despite the judicial decision.
Haji emphasised that the Supreme Judicial Council should reconsider its decision, noting that the party’s authorisation was granted under Article 40 and that it was established in 2017 with the approval of the Iraqi Political Parties Supervisory Body, according to the Political Parties Law.
Haji further highlighted the impact of this decision on the Yazidi people, especially on the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. He claimed that the decision was based on incorrect information, and noted that it followed on from the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The politician concluded by urging an annulment of the decision, the submission of necessary evidence to the relevant courts, and the protection of the democratic society model.
The coordination of Yazidi-European communities responded similarly to the Baghdad government’s ban on PADÊ activities. In its statement, the coordination highlighted that the freedom-loving Yazidi community would continue to uphold the model of a democratic society.
“Ten years have passed since the Yazidi genocide, yet there has been no significant change in the situation of the Yazidis. This decision cannot be taken without good reason, as it challenges our right to life, independent will and political status,” the statement read.
The statement continued by stressing the resilience of the Yazidi community to such a mindset, asserting that “no effort can prevent the Yazidis from seeking freedom. The Yazidi community is organised and will continue to protect the democratic society model.”
The Iraqi government has complied with a request made by Erdoğan during his visit to Iraq to ban or close down PKK-affiliated parties, Hoshyar Zebari, a member of the political bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), said on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. He added, “It is right and wise not to include three ‘PKK-affiliated parties’ in the KRI elections.”
