Kurdistan Regional Prosecutor General challenges Turkish military presence in Iraq with legal petition

ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Prosecutor General of Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Mohammad Rekani has formally urged both the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to initiate legal action against Turkey’s military presence in northern Iraq, citing constitutional violations and threats to national sovereignty.

In a petition addressed to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Rekani highlighted a recent incident in which Turkish forces allegedly stopped and questioned civilians in the Bradost region, demanding identification documents. The episode has heightened public unease and underscored concerns over Turkey’s ongoing operations in the area.

Rekani argued that the deployment of foreign military forces on Iraqi soil without the explicit consent of central or regional authorities violates Articles 8 and 67 of the Iraqi Constitution. “Any foreign intervention must adhere to a defined legal framework; otherwise, it remains illegal,” he stated.

He stressed that safeguarding citizens’ rights and upholding national dignity are shared legal and moral obligations. “Defending the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region is not just regional pride — it’s a cornerstone of the rule of law,” Rekani wrote.

This petition is the first official legal challenge to Turkish cross-border operations. Drawing on both the Iraqi Constitution and the 2005 Kurdistan Region Presidency Law, Rekani called for immediate legal measures to address the alleged violations.

Turkey maintains numerous military outposts in northern Iraq, justifying its presence as part of its campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK), which Ankara classifies as a terrorist organization. However, local officials and residents have increasingly condemned these operations, citing threats to territorial integrity and civilian safety.

While tensions between Turkey and Iraq over these incursions have simmered for years, Rekani’s legal challenge may now compel Iraqi leadership to reevaluate its response to Turkey’s ongoing military activities in northern Iraq.