BAGHDAD, Iraq

Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Wednesday hailed the Iraqi decision to outlaw three parties for their links with the PKK terrorist group.

He said the decision by the Iraqi judicial authorities to bar the three parties, which are offshoots of the PKK terror group, from participating in the upcoming elections of the Iraqi Kurdish region on Oct. 20 is "perfectly right and wise."

Zebari, who is a prominent leader within Iraq’s Kurdish Democratic Party, described these parties as a "cancerous tumor" in the region and entire Iraq, and "a factor of chaos and instability."

On Tuesday, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council outlawed the “Ezidi Freedom and Democracy" party, the "Democratic Struggle Front" and the "Kurdistan Community Freedom" party, and ordered the confiscation of their properties.

The ban on these parties came following a complaint by the country's National Security Advisory, and after confirmations by Iraq's intelligence and the prime minister's office that these parties have links with the PKK terrorist group.

On July 23, the Iraqi government issued a directive for state institutions to refer to PKK terrorist group as a "banned organization" in official correspondence.

In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.


*Writing by Ahmed Asmar