Erbil court issues death penalty for six senior members of PUK's Counter Terrorism Forces

Conflicts between the two main ruling parties in the Kurdistan region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Sunday entered into a very dangerous stage after an Erbil-based court sentenced PUK's head of Counter Terrorism Forces (CTG) and five other members to death over their alleged involvement in the assassination of a former PUK colonel in Erbil. 

Hawkar Abdullah Rasoul, known as Hawkar Jaff, a former colonel in the ranks of PUK's CTG was killed in the capital city of Erbil on 7 October after a sticky bomb, attached to his vehicle, detonated.

Wahab Halabjay and 8 other members of PUKs Anti Terror Unit sentenced to death by Court in Erbil, according to Hawkar Jafs brother Saman.

Hawkar Jaf, who was a former PUK anti Terror commandant and close associate to Lahur Talabani, was killed in Erbil with a car bomb. pic.twitter.com/RgKUPx56w4

— Aram (@AramKrdstn) June 4, 2023

Wahab Majid Baqi, known as Wahab Halabjayi, and CTG head of intelligence Karzan Muhammad Rasheed, along with four other members in the CTG were sentenced to death on absentia by an Erbil Criminal Court, Mohamed Jaff, brother of late Jaff told the reporters in Erbil.

The brother also said that court sentences would be announced on more suspects in the case by 8 June.  

Jaff was supervising the CTG operations in Nineveh and was fired in the summer of 2021 due to an internal issue between cousins Bafel Talabani and Lahur Talabani - then co-leaders of PUK, since Jaff was a close ally to Lahur. 

Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), a body controlled by the KDP, on 12 October aired alleged confessions of six suspects in the assassination. The KRSC claimed that the "terrorist explosion" was "conducted by a team of CTG-Sulaymaniyah and by direct orders from Halabjayi and Rasheed.

Accordingly, an Erbil court has issued arrest warrants against Halabjayi, Rasheed, and senior PUK officials. The CTG denied any involvement in the killing of Jaff.

The New Arab contacted Soran Jamal Tahir, PUK’s spokesperson, but he was not immediately available to comment.

Bafel Talabani, PUK's President, on Monday, met with Halabjaei and CTG senior commanders, awarding them "for their efforts and sacrifices for the sake of Kurdistan and the prosperity of its people," according to a statement by the CTG.

"You are an example of loyal and hardworking commanders of Kurdistan and have recorded a proud history. Your activities to maintain the stability of the region and its beloved people testify to your loyalty and tirelessness," Talabani was quoted as saying. 

Although both parties are partners in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the KDP, led by the Barzani family dominate the Kurdish region's Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK, led by the Talabani family, rules Sulaimaniyah and Halabja provinces.

Both parties have their separate Peshmerga forces, security and intelligence agencies. Both parties fought an internal conflict from 1994 until 1998, in which thousands of fighters and civilians were killed, wounded and displaced.

The two parties also have different views on how to share revenues begotten from the region's oil and gas sector and whether to hold a much-delayed general election scheduled for 18 November.

The judiciary in the Kurdish region is under constant criticism for being subordinate to the jurisdictions of the two ruling parties.

The court's decisions have raised concerns of local citizens about splintering the Kurdish region into two separate administrations in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah.   

Qubad Talabani, the deputy prime minister of KRG, boycotted the meetings of the KRG's Council of Ministers for months but recently returned to the formal meetings of the cabinet headed by PM Masrour Barzani, son of Masoud Barzani-the KDP president.