Former PUK co-president Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi accuse Kurdish authorities of political interference in their eight-month detention case, raising pressure on the Kurdistan Region’s judiciary.
Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, Sulaimani, Iraq, 19 April, Kurdish Policy Analysis -- Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi have begun a hunger strike over their eight-month detention, accusing Kurdish officials of interfering in the judiciary and blocking their case from reaching appeal courts.
Lahur Sheikh Jangi, former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi have begun a hunger strike, saying they have been held in what they describe as unjust imprisonment for eight months.
In a public message, Sheikh Jangi said the decision came after prolonged delays in the judicial process, accusing authorities of obstructing legal review of their case.
“For eight months, we have been unjustly imprisoned, contrary to all institutional and legal norms,” he said.
Allegations of Political Interference
Sheikh Jangi directly accused senior Kurdish officials, including PUK President Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, of interfering in the judicial process.
He claimed that pressure on courts and institutions has prevented the case from reaching the Court of Cassation, effectively blocking legal review.
According to Sheikh Jangi, the hunger strike will continue “until the rule of law is restored” in their case.
“You have left no role for the courts and institutions of Sulaymaniyah,” he added.
Court Developments and Legal Dispute
In January 2026, the Sulaymaniyah Criminal Court suspended proceedings in the case and referred the file to the Court of Cassation in Erbil after a request from the defense team.
The defense, led by lawyer Burhan Rashid Gulla, confirmed that the referral request was submitted formally to the higher judiciary.
The case remains under review at the appellate level.
Background: Armed Clashes and Arrest Operation
The case originates from events on August 22, 2025, when security forces attempted to execute an arrest warrant against Sheikh Jangi at the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaymaniyah, which also served as his political headquarters.
The operation involved multiple security units, including:
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Asayish (General Security forces)
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Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG)
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Commando units
They reportedly surrounded the compound, leading to armed resistance from forces loyal to Sheikh Jangi, known as the “Scorpion Force.”
The ensuing clashes lasted more than three hours, involving heavy gunfire and explosions.
At least four people were killed, dozens were injured, and more than 100 individuals were detained.
Political Fallout in the Kurdistan Region
Sheikh Jangi, once a senior figure within the PUK, was removed from the party leadership in 2021 before founding the opposition political movement known as the People’s Front (Baray Gal).
He was later arrested alongside his brother Polad and several senior aides following the 2025 confrontation.
The case has since become one of the most sensitive political and judicial disputes in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting deep divisions within Kurdish political structures and ongoing tensions between rival factions in Sulaymaniyah.
Analysis: A Legal Case with Political Weight
While formally a criminal proceeding, the case has evolved into a broader political confrontation between rival Kurdish power centers.
The hunger strike introduces new pressure on the judiciary and could further intensify scrutiny of political influence over legal institutions in the Kurdistan Region.
For now, the case remains unresolved, with both legal and political implications continuing to unfold.
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