Iraqi judiciary dissolves three political parties over alleged links to PKK

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi judiciary announced the dissolve of three political parties for their alleged association with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK), which is banned in Iraq. The decision also includes the closure of their headquarters and the seizure of financial assets.

The Elections Judicial Commission in the Supreme Judicial Council issued the decision at the request of the Department of Political Parties and Organizations in the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq.

The parties affected are the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party, the Democratic Struggle Front, and the Kurdistan Society’s Freedom Movement (Tavgari Azadi).

According to the statement, the parties were dissolved, their offices shut down, and their finances confiscated based on a complaint from the national security adviser. The complaint cited their association with the banned PKK, which poses a “danger” to Iraqi national security.

In mid-July, the general secretariat of the Iraqi Federal Council of Ministers directed that the PKK be described as a banned organization.