Security forces block planned salary protest in Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH — Public sector employees had planned to stage a protest Monday morning in Sulaymaniyah city center, demanding the payment of long-delayed salaries. However, a heavy security presence citing “the absence of an official permit” led to the protest being called off.

Despite being midway through July, residents of the Kurdistan Region have not received salaries for May, amid continued disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over oil exports and internal revenue distribution.

Security forces were deployed in large numbers in the area. Media crews were also barred from covering the scene.

A similar protest attempt on June 26 by teachers and public employees in Sulaymaniyah was blocked by security forces, who cited the lack of a permit. Several people, including teachers, political figures, and journalists, were detained during that protest but were later released.