ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has declared its full backing for the Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign that began on Sunday, while urging that the operations be expanded beyond Baghdad to all provinces across Iraq.
In a statement late Sunday, the bloc said it welcomes the measures taken by Zaidi and the judiciary in targeting corruption and arresting suspects, saying: "We hope that this campaign will not be confined to Baghdad alone, but will be expanded to all Iraqi provinces and cities."
"We reaffirm our full readiness to provide every possible form of cooperation and support... for taking legal action against every individual involved in corruption, without discrimination or exception," the statement added.
The statement comes as Iraqi authorities launched a sweeping anti-corruption operation early Sunday that led to dozens of arrests across the country.
The campaign, coordinated with Iraq’s Commission of Integrity, saw the detention of 47 suspects, including lawmakers, former officials, and senior government employees.
On Sunday, Kurdistan Region authorities handed over eight detainees to the Iraqi Commission of Integrity, including three lawmakers and five senior officials arrested in Erbil by Counter Terrorism forces on corruption-related charges.
Senior KDP official Hoshyar Zebari also commented on the arrests, stressing that the Kurdistan Region would not shelter suspects.
“Iraqi Kurdistan is the bastion of freedom and democracy in Iraq. It has been and remains a sanctuary for all the free people of Iraq and those oppressed and tortured by human rights violations; however, it will never be a haven for criminals, thieves of public funds, and the corrupt," Zebari said in a post on X on Sunday.
A Kurdish lawmaker and member of parliament’s finance committee said corrupt officials may have embezzled funds equivalent to the country’s annual budget.
“I expect that an amount equal to Iraq's annual budget can be recovered from these corrupt individuals because massive corruption has occurred,” Jamal Kochar said.
“If these steps were not taken, the largest corruption in Iraq would have occurred in 2027, as they all spent billions of dinars [on campaigns] to become MPs only to steal it back later,” he added.
The first-of-its-kind crackdown was launched by Zaidi, who has pledged broad reforms to strengthen governance and reduce corruption.
Speaking during a cabinet session on Sunday, Zaidi said the operation marks only the beginning of a wider effort, noting that "Iraq will begin a new chapter."
“This offensive is merely a first strike; the issue of corruption is not over. We are continuing to fight it," Zaidi told the ministers, adding: "for anyone in possession of public funds, we want that money returned to its rightful owners; the people's money must return to the people.”
“I cannot remain silent about any wrongdoing. I will not compromise on the interests of the Iraqi people, and this government will be a distinguished one, God willing," he said.
“Regarding anyone whose mind is set on working for the state while stealing the money of orphans and the poor: they are mistaken. I tell them, do not stay; I will pursue them day and night.”
