According to Asayish source

Sulaymaniyah security forces arrest ‘Squid Game’ event organizer

SULAYMANIYAH — The organizer of a controversial “Squid Game”-inspired competition in Sulaymaniyah has been arrested on a judicial order, according to a security source from the Sulaymaniyah Asayish who spoke to 964media.

The organizer, identified as Reber Hadi, is accused of “inciting violence, organizing an unlicensed public gathering, and collecting money without authorization,” the source said. The Asayish Directorate has urged individuals who paid entry fees for the event to visit their offices and file formal complaints.

964media contacted Salam Abdulkhaliq, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Security Agency, which oversees Sulaymaniyah and Halabja governorates. Abdulkhaliq confirmed the case has been referred to the judiciary, adding, “We cannot disclose further details at this time as it is now under judicial review.”

The “Squid Game”-inspired event was announced in early January with promises of cash prizes and an Umrah trip to Saudi Arabia. Participants paid entry fees ranging between 13,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $8.67) and 25,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $16.67), but were left empty-handed after the organizer went silent.

Hadi, who promoted the event on social media and messaging platforms, previously claimed to have more than 200 registrants. The event never materialized, and his phone and social media accounts became inactive.

On February 4, dozens of participants gathered in Sulaymaniyah to protest and demand refunds, some carrying banners and accusing Hadi of fraud. They expressed frustration over the lack of clarity on how they would recover their money.

In January, Hadi told 964media’s Kurdish edition, “I got my concept from the same network, it include six similar games and so far, more than 200 people have signed up.” He also provided a WhatsApp and Viber number for prospective participants to reserve a spot, stating, “We have not received any official approval from security authorities yet, only participant registrations.”