Iraqi defense ministry sues Kirkuk Kurdish farmer over insult allegation
Also in Iraq
Halabja becomes Iraq's 19th province
Turkmen MP urges end to Baghdad-Erbil trade restrictions, warns of empty markets
Iraq apprehends two escaped prisoners
Kirkuk Provincial Council has not sat for 3 months
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's defense ministry has filed a lawsuit against a Kurdish farmer in Kirkuk, who went viral for being pulled off his tractor, for allegedly insulting the Iraqi army, his lawyer said on Monday.
Farmer Mohammed Amin, who is also the head of the farmers' defense committee in Kirkuk's northwestern Sargaran district, was forcefully pulled from his tractor by his scarf during a confrontation with the Iraqi army in mid-February. He was detained and later released on bail.
'The Iraqi defense ministry has officially filed a complaint against Mohammed Amin, claiming that he threw stones at soldiers and insulted the army,' his lawyer, Bashdar Hassan, told Rudaw.
'What is being claimed has no factual or legal basis,' Hassan added.
In February, tensions escalated in Sargaran when Iraqi security forces barred Kurdish farmers from accessing lands previously confiscated under the Baath regime.
Footage filmed by Rudaw showed Iraqi army and anti-riot forces clashing with residents of Shanagha village as they attempted to enter their farmland. In one scene, a security officer is seen trying to forcibly remove Amin from his tractor, pulling him by the scarf.
The farmer has given his statement at the local court and police station and is now awaiting the judge's decision on whether he will be released or remain in detention, according to Hassan.
The soldier who pulled Amin by his scarf also filed a complaint against him. Hassan said that the defense ministry has submitted a separate complaint in addition to the soldier's.
Following the incident, Amin filed a complaint against the soldier, who was detained for several days before being released.
The crackdown on farmers drew sharp reactions from officials in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to task a special committee with probing the incident.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency at the time slammed the Iraqi forces' crackdown on Kurdish farmers as 'completely rejected and unacceptable.'
The Iraqi presidency in mid-February ratified the land restitution law aimed at returning lands confiscated under the Baath regime to their original owners.
The law pertains to 300,000 dunams of land belonging to Kurdish and Turkmen owners in Kirkuk and other disputed areas. The Sargaran sub-district includes 42 villages, five of which are at the center of the dispute.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
39 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
US urges Baghdad, Erbil to settle salary crisis
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the US State Department urged both Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional governments to resolve their salary dispute through constructive and consistent dialogue, warning that the prolonged crisis could damage Iraq's investment environment. At a press briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States is closely following the situation in the Kurdistan Region, stressing that resolving the dispute in line with constitutional responsibilities would send a clear signal that Iraq is committed to creating conditions favorable to investment, including from American companies. Bruce also indicated that meaningful progress on the issue could help facilitate broader cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil, including the reopening of the Iraq–Turkiye oil pipeline and the expansion of energy exploration activities. Her remarks came as tensions between the Federal and Regional governments have escalated over the release of public sector salaries. Federal authorities have linked disbursements to the KRG's full transfer of oil exports to the state-owned SOMO company and increased oversight of non-oil revenues. The KRG has pushed back, arguing that the conditions are excessive and deviate from earlier understandings. The deadlock has resulted in delayed salary payments for hundreds of thousands of public employees in the Kurdistan Region. As a temporary measure, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani later authorized the payment of May salaries through a federal loan, pending a permanent resolution.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
PM Barzani warns of "serious repercussions" over delayed salaries
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani warned that the continued halt in salary payments to public employees in the Region could have serious repercussions, characterizing Baghdad's move as 'unjust and unconstitutional.' Speaking at the inauguration of the 'Visit Kurdistan' foundation, Barzani linked the suspension of salaries to broader efforts aimed at placing pressure on the Region, hindering its reconstruction and development. He also emphasized that the KRG had met its constitutional responsibilities — and exceeded them — stressing that he expected reciprocal commitments from Baghdad to protect the rights of the Kurdistan Region's citizens. Instead, he pointed to what he described as a ''disregard for constitutional provisions'' and previously concluded agreements. His comments came amid heightened friction between Erbil and Baghdad over the release of public sector salaries. Federal authorities have linked disbursements to the Kurdistan Region's full transfer of oil exports to the state-run SOMO company, along with increased oversight of non-oil revenues. The KRG has pushed back, viewing the conditions as excessive and inconsistent with earlier understandings. The deadlock has resulted in delayed salary payments for hundreds of thousands of public employees in the Region. As a temporary measure, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani later authorized the payment of May's salaries through a federal loan, pending further resolution.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US envoy warns of assassination threat to Syria's Al-Sharaa
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack voiced concern over the safety of Syria's transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, warning that his efforts to promote inclusive governance and build relations with the West could make him a target for assassination by what he described as 'disgruntled militants.' In remarks to Al-Monitor, Barrack called for the establishment of a coordinated protection system around al-Sharaa, underscoring that US and Syrian interests are increasingly aligned. Barrack also highlighted the continuing risk posed by armed factions of foreign fighters who had joined forces with al-Sharaa during the campaign that led to the removal of former president Bashar al-Assad in early December. Although the current leadership is working to integrate these fighters into the national army, he noted they remain susceptible to recruitment by extremist groups, including ISIS. That risk, Barrack added, is part of a broader set of challenges confronting al-Sharaa's administration. These include the integration of Kurdish military units into the national army, the absorption of foreign fighter formations, and the management of extensive detention facilities across northern Syria. Turning to regional dynamics, Barrack voiced cautious optimism that, despite the absence of direct communication, Israel and the new Syrian leadership could reach a tacit understanding, warning that any military escalation at this point would carry severe consequences for all sides.
