President Barzani says ‘law must prevail’ after deadly clashes in Sulaymaniyah

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said the aftermath of last week’s clashes in Sulaymaniyah must be handled through legal channels, stressing that the stability of the region depends on protecting lives and property.

“What matters to us is that everything proceeds legally,” Barzani told reporters Sunday on the sidelines of the Yezidi Genocide Conference at the University of Kurdistan in Erbil. “The lives and property of citizens must be protected, and whatever happens, the law must prevail. What happened, happened, what matters is that the legal process continues. God willing, the situation will be resolved.”

His remarks followed a statement from his office on Aug. 22 that confirmed casualties from the fighting in Sulaymaniyah’s Lalazar area. That statement stressed “the supremacy of law and the protection of the security and stability of the city,” urging disputes to be resolved in courts rather than through violence, while offering condolences to victims’ families and recovery wishes to the injured.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also commented, describing the clashes as “an internal dispute between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the opposition People’s Front.” His office said the regional government was not informed until after the fighting began. “Despite many efforts by the prime minister to prevent clashes, unfortunately the attack happened and there were casualties and injuries,” the statement said, adding that “the law must replace partisan decisions and violence so the stability of the Kurdistan Region is not put at risk.”

The Lalazar clashes, which began around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 22 and lasted about four hours, were among the deadliest outbreaks of political violence in the Kurdistan Region in recent years. Security forces surrounded the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaymaniyah and fought armed men loyal to opposition leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi. Tanks and heavy weapons were deployed, damaging homes and businesses. Some residents said they received no warning to evacuate before the fighting.

Sheikh Jangi, ousted as PUK co-leader in 2021 and now head of the People’s Front, was arrested after the clashes.