Officials pledge 'legal measures'

Human rights commission accuses Ranya detention center of abuses against detainees

SULAYMANIYAH — The Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region says detainees at the Ranya Security Directorate in Sulaymaniyah have been subjected to mistreatment, prompting security officials to acknowledge violations and pledge “legal measures” against those responsible.

Mona Yaqo, head of the commission, visited the Raparin Security Directorate on Friday after receiving reports of abuse at the Ranya detention facility. “After contacting the head of the Raparin Security Directorate, he acknowledged the violations and told us that legal action has been taken against those responsible,” Yaqo told 964 media.

She added, “What we have learned is that detainees inside the Ranya security prison are being mistreated. We wanted to investigate these claims firsthand and check on the detainees’ health, but we were denied entry to the facility. We were not even allowed to take photos from a distance.”

Yaqo also noted that several guards displayed a concerning lack of awareness. “They did not even understand what human rights are or what our responsibilities as a human rights commission entail,” she said.

Founded under Law No. 4 of 2010 by the Kurdistan Parliament, the Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region is a government-backed but administratively independent body tasked with monitoring and promoting human rights in the area.

Meanwhile, Luqman Haji Qadir, head of the Human Rights Office in Raparin, offered a different perspective on the visit. “We planned to visit the detention center with Dr. Mona Yaqo after receiving reports of abuse,” Qadir told 964media. “However, the relevant officials were unavailable to meet us. They admitted that an incident had occurred but did not clarify whether it was a systematic issue or an isolated case, as we were unable to speak with them directly.”