Last month, CPT-Iraq interviewed eleven Peshmerga (Kurdish armed forces, literally “those who face death”) and Iraqi Border Patrol officers whom members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have harassed because of their support of the Goran (Change) List.  Since that interview, many more stories of persecution have surfaced, cracking the façade of a completely fair election.

Shortly following the election-Iraq’s second parliamentary election since the latest constitution was instated, there was a brief quiet period which some mistakenly interpreted as the people’s satisfaction.  However, not too long afterwards, CPT's Iraq team learned of the Peshmergas’ situation (see the video here), and then began hearing other stories of political persecution.

A family was driven from their home in Rania for supporting Goran, a few hours north of Suleimaniya, by their PUK-supporting neighbors.  In Kirkuk, mysterious armed men picked up a man who hung a Goran flag on his home, detaining and torturing him until after election day.  While campaigning for Goran last year during the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary election, a young man, Aziz, was abducted and tortured by a group of armed men.  During the campaign season this year, Aziz says the PUK harassed him and made false charges against him.  Among the allegations against him were, he said, “that I wanted to kidnap a guard from PUK building #1.”  Aziz noted, “I have a small body and the guard has a gun.  I am without a weapon.  I only have a pen,” implying that his ideas are the reason behind the harassment.  He is now seeking refuge in the Goran headquarters, fearing for his life if he leaves.  The video featuring Aziz is here.

Who is responsible for the persecution?  Though proof is scarce, all victims point to the PUK’s elusive Counter-Terrorism Group, headed by Lahur Talabani, nephew of Iraqi President and PUK leader Jalal Talabani.  The younger Talabani has told the Kurdish news source, Rudaw,  seemingly contradictory claims about his group saying, “we don’t do anything in Suleimaniya, we are just on the borders to prevent terrorists from coming in,” and “the only thing we do in Suleimaniya is intelligence collection.”  It appears that  “intelligence collection” also includes intimidation and torture.

On 3 April 2010, the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Massoud Barzani, held a meeting with leaders of the main Kurdish political parties.  At this meeting, Goran representatives called for an end to the harassment and for the PUK to return jobs to Goran supporters fired because of their political affiliation.  What Barzani’s response will be remains unclear, but those Kurds targeted for speaking out against corruption embody a spirit that has led to social change all over the world.