ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Jailed opposition leader and former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Lahur Jangi Talabany on Thursday received five years and three months sentence by Sulaimani’s criminal court for planning a felony, his lawyer told Rudaw, highlighting the completion of the court session on criminal conspiracy charges while vowing to appeal. Talabany’s brother, Polad, and men arrested during the clashes with Sulaimani security forces last year received lower sentences.
Dana Taqiyadin claimed the court relied on "physical evidence” from the shooting scenes in and around Sulaimani’s Lalazar Hotel, where Talabany and a number of his armed men engaged in armed clashes with security forces on August 22, 2025.
“The materials may have been planted or transferred after the incident,” he told Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman. He also said the court has relied on “confessions obtained under torture” during the investigation phase.
Talabany was co-leading the PUK with his cousin and the current leader of the party, Bafel Talabani, between February 2020 and July 2021, when he was ousted from the party by Bafel. He later established the People’s Front (Baray Gal) and participated in the 2024 Kurdistan Parliament elections, securing two seats.
Authorities at the time accused him and individuals in his network of involvement in plotting attacks, including an alleged plan to assassinate PUK President Bafel Talabani - claims his party and lawyers have repeatedly denied.
Polad Talabany, his brother, was also present at Thursday’s trial.
According to Taqiyadin, he received a three and a half year prison sentence. Ten other defendants - including Lahur’s trusted military commander, Rebwar Hami Haji Ghali - appeared before the Sulaimani court. Ghali received two years, while the rest were sentenced for equivalent, slightly higher, or lower prison time. Two of the defendants were acquitted.
Taqiyadin noted that the court has tried the defendants based on Article 56 of the Iraqi penal code, which addresses conspiracy for committing a misdemeanor or a crime. If the intended plan was geared towards a felony, the imprisonment sentence could reach seven years, even if the crime was not committed.
He further said the court has scheduled another session in late October to try the defendants on premeditated murder or aggravated homicide.
Of relevant note, more than 200 detainees in relation to the Lalezar Hotel incident have been released as of April.
[Updated at 1:20 pm]
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