Erbil court acquits suspects in 2016 bombing of Iranian-Kurdish party
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – An Erbil criminal court on Thursday cleared the three main suspects in a twin bombing of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK or HDK) in December 2016 that that killed five members of the party and two Asayesh, security, officers.
"The evidence was not incriminating enough, that is why all three suspects were released,” Ayad Kakeyi, prosecutor, told Rudaw.
"I believe the trial was very just and a very good thing,” Ismael, a relative of one of the suspects, told Rudaw. “I have no objections or concerns. I have been to this court more than once and I have no criticism. We told the democratic party that if you have any incrementing proof, then we are ready to be witnesses against him like you.”
The party, however, plans to appeal the decision.
"The evidence presented is said to be not enough. We do not like this. That is why we will ask via our lawyers to take the case to the Cassation Court for a final decision to be made," Idris Qadiri, PDK representative following the case, told Rudaw.
According to Qadiri, witnesses were unwilling to testify due to threats made against them and security concerns. He argued that the Kurdistan Region is under pressure from Iran, saying this is a factor in individuals choosing not to come forward and testify.
Prosecutor Kakayi confirmed they will file an appeal within 30 days.
On December 21, 2016, as the members of PDK in Koya were marking the birthday of their late leader Abdulrahman Ghassemloo, assassinated by Iranian agents in Vienna, Austria in 1989, twin bombings took place only minutes apart, killing five party members and two security officers.
PDK blamed Iran for the bombing, calling it the mastermind behind the attack that was dubbed a terror act by the KRG.
Several Iranian Kurdish parties have their headquarters in the Kurdistan Region.
Earlier on Thursday, two Peshmerga with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) were injured by a bomb planted under their car in the Bnaslawa quarter of Erbil. The party has blamed Iran.
"The evidence was not incriminating enough, that is why all three suspects were released,” Ayad Kakeyi, prosecutor, told Rudaw.
"I believe the trial was very just and a very good thing,” Ismael, a relative of one of the suspects, told Rudaw. “I have no objections or concerns. I have been to this court more than once and I have no criticism. We told the democratic party that if you have any incrementing proof, then we are ready to be witnesses against him like you.”
The party, however, plans to appeal the decision.
"The evidence presented is said to be not enough. We do not like this. That is why we will ask via our lawyers to take the case to the Cassation Court for a final decision to be made," Idris Qadiri, PDK representative following the case, told Rudaw.
According to Qadiri, witnesses were unwilling to testify due to threats made against them and security concerns. He argued that the Kurdistan Region is under pressure from Iran, saying this is a factor in individuals choosing not to come forward and testify.
Prosecutor Kakayi confirmed they will file an appeal within 30 days.
On December 21, 2016, as the members of PDK in Koya were marking the birthday of their late leader Abdulrahman Ghassemloo, assassinated by Iranian agents in Vienna, Austria in 1989, twin bombings took place only minutes apart, killing five party members and two security officers.
PDK blamed Iran for the bombing, calling it the mastermind behind the attack that was dubbed a terror act by the KRG.
Several Iranian Kurdish parties have their headquarters in the Kurdistan Region.
Earlier on Thursday, two Peshmerga with the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) were injured by a bomb planted under their car in the Bnaslawa quarter of Erbil. The party has blamed Iran.