University of Sulaimani completes misconduct inquiry into prominent Salafi cleric

SULAYMANIYAH — The University of Sulaimani said Thursday it had completed its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Abdullatif Ahmad Mustafa, one of the Kurdistan Region’s most influential Salafi clerics and a faculty member at the university, and forwarded its findings to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The university said its committee had concluded its work and submitted recommendations intended to protect students and preserve academic integrity, without disclosing their contents.

A university source, speaking to 964media on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, said the committee had recommended dismissing Abdullatif, permanently barring him from employment in higher education and denying him retirement benefits.

Six to seven students from the College of Islamic Sciences, both women and men, filed complaints and gave testimony, the source said.

The allegations emerged earlier this month after a UK-based Kurdish activist who goes by Yaxi published audio recordings he claims documented inappropriate sexual interactions between Abdullatif and several female students. The recordings spread widely on Kurdish social media, followed by allegations from students at the College of Islamic Sciences who said Abdullatif had sent them sexually explicit images and engaged in inappropriate conversations through messaging apps.

Abdullatif has repeatedly denied the allegations. After the recordings were released, he rejected the claim that the voice was his, saying the clips were generated using artificial intelligence. In a June 21 statement he again denied wrongdoing, calling the accusations “false, fabricated, and have no basis in truth,” accusing ideological opponents and extremist groups of orchestrating a smear campaign and saying he would take legal action.

The university announced the high-level investigative committee on June 19, pledging a transparent inquiry.

964media contacted Higher Education Ministry spokesman Abbas Akram but he was not immediately available for comment.

Abdullatif is one of the Kurdistan Region’s best-known Salafi clerics, with a following built over decades of preaching and religious education. He is widely regarded as a leading figure of the quietist, or madkhali, Salafi movement in the Kurdistan Region, a branch that advocates obedience to rulers and rejects political activism and armed rebellion. The case has drawn wide attention and sparked public debate over accountability in religious and educational institutions.