Judiciary faces ‘serious’ issues in Kurdistan Region: President Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday said that the Region’s judiciary authority faces “serious” issues and challenges but stressed that they are determined to resolve them.  

President Barzani on Sunday hosted 60 newly-graduated judges and deputy prosecutors, including 24 women, in Erbil. He told them that they should not allow anyone to interfere with their affairs.  

“We have definitely not said that and will not say that the freedom of the judiciary and the rule of law in the Kurdistan Region does not face any issues! We do not say that everything about the judiciary authority is fine and it is not under political pressure!” President Barzani said. 

“The judiciary authority is facing serious issues and challenges which need to be addressed and reformed. However, what matters is that I assure you that we have a serious willingness and determination and we constantly endeavour to address [the issues]. You can also gradually get rid of the issues,” he added, addressing the fresh graduates. 

He also said that the judges and prosecutors can prevent anyone from interfering with their work. 

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been locally and internationally criticised for the detention of protests in Duhok in 2020 and the arrest of journalists and activists.

Barzani has been observing the case of the detained activists and journalists, reducing the sentences of some of them.