PM:08:13:08/09/2025
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The judiciary in the Kurdistan Region is facing an unprecedented challenge and the case of Shaswar Abdulwahid makes it painfully clear. A process that should be fair and impartial has been hijacked by the region’s two dominant parties, the PUK and KDP, along with their powerful ruling families, who exert overwhelming political influence over the courts.
Despite repeated requests from his legal team, Mr. Abdulwahid has been denied access to his full case file. Essential documents are being deliberately withheld, undermining transparency, due process, and the rule of law. At this critical stage of the appeal (tamyiz), this refusal is not a legal matter it is political interference.
By blocking access to evidence, the PUK and KDP are ensuring the judiciary serves political interests rather than justice. This deliberate obstruction protects their agenda and prevents the courts from functioning independently.
The international community cannot stand by. Human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and legal watchdogs must step in to secure a complete copy of Mr. Abdulwahid’s case file. Without this, transparency is impossible, and his rights remain at risk.
This is far more than one individual case, it is a warning sign. When powerful political actors dominate the courts, justice becomes a tool for political gain. The ambitions of a few must not override fairness, accountability, and the basic rights of all citizens in the Kurdistan Region.
The time for action is now. Political interference in the judiciary cannot continue unchecked, and justice for Shaswar Abdulwahid must be restored.
By Arian Taugozi, Member of the Iraqi Parliament, New Generation Movement, Foreign Relations Committee