The Kurdish man was held and tortured during protests that hit Sulaimaniyah in late 2020. AFP
The Kurdish man was held and tortured during protests that hit Sulaimaniyah in late 2020. AFP
The Kurdish man was held and tortured during protests that hit Sulaimaniyah in late 2020. AFP
The Kurdish man was held and tortured during protests that hit Sulaimaniyah in late 2020. AFP

Iraqi 'tortured' by PUK wins right to stay in the UK


Tariq Tahir
  • English
  • Arabic

An opponent of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who alleged he was detained and tortured by authorities, has been granted asylum in the UK.

A judge ruled that the Kudrish man, who has been granted anonymity, would face persecution for his political views if he was forced to return to Iraq, and could even be killed.

The PUK is one of the two main political parties in the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, along with its rival the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

An immigration tribunal was told the man from Sulaymaniyah was arrested and held for four days in 2020, in connection with protests against the PUK during which time he was tortured.

The Sulaymaniyah area was hit by a wave of protests that year against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over unemployment, a lack of public services and falling wages. Demonstrators targeted PUK offices and the government, with security forces aligned with the PUK clamping down on the protests.

After being released, the man held anti-PUK meetings in a billiard hall run by his family in which he urged people not to vote for the party in upcoming elections, but shots were fired at the premises and he was threatened on the phone.

Supporters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan celebrate after the closing of ballot boxes during the 2021 parliamentary election. Reuters
Supporters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan celebrate after the closing of ballot boxes during the 2021 parliamentary election. Reuters

He left Iraq for London in September 2021, but continued to post social media content and take part in demonstrations critical of the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan.

An initial claim for asylum was, however, rejected by a judge on the grounds that he would not be at risk because he was not regarded as a well-known critic of the PUK.

But he appealed on the grounds the judge had incorrectly interpreted the UK government’s guidance about the political situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, known as Country Policy and Application Notes (CPIN).

This states that individuals who are at “higher risk of arrest, detention, assault, excessive use of force and extrajudicial killing by the KRG authorities” include those who “have previous history of organising or participating in protests and demonstrations”.

Judge Thomas Cole ruled that his colleague “materially erred in law in his application of the CPIN” and “fails to adequately assess the risk” to the man if he was returned to Iraq.

The facts of the case and the man’s experience put “squarely within the risk profile” of those opposed to the Kurdish authorities, he said.

The Kurdish region won self-rule in 1991, when the US imposed a no-fly zone over it in response to Saddam Hussein’s brutal repression of Kurdish uprisings.

The KDP, the largest party in the Kurdistan, controls Erbil and Duhok province, while Sulaymaniyah province is controlled by its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

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Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

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5. Zakat 

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Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

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UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final

(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)

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Updated: April 30, 2025, 1:33 PM`