Corruption Continues in Iraqi Kurdistan (Part V)

Kurdishaspect.com - By Baqi Barzani

Prostitution, human trafficking and sexual scandals are rapidly on the rise in Iraqi Kurdistan. What is startling the most is that the overwhelming majority of crimes are committed by our own politicians and senior government officials within KRG. For years, this trend has continued short of any legal action or prosecution of those involved!

US State Department Annual Human Rights Report failed to circumspectly probe this unbridled phenomenon in Kurdistan. Simultaneously, KRG strives hard to cover up the factual figures from NGO’S and Human Rights Groups by disallowing the victims to appeal to law enforcement agencies to report or obtain legal aid , silencing the victims by coercion or monetary recompense, and impeding the independent press from exposing the reality to the last ditch possible.

While I realize that vilifying and disclosing government scandals or any sorts of corruption issues can definitely, severely impact KRG’s repute in the eyes of the democratic societies, but what about the constitutional rights of those victims and how long will this prolong without any intervention? Furthermore, is not the government that has to primarily be blamed for such intentional faults?

At the present time, domestic violence against Kurdish women is one of the most common practices in Kurdistan, especially in KDP-administered regions, including beatings, shootings and burnings. The general lack of security and genuine law in Kurdistan and increasingly conservative societal tendencies has had a serious negative impact on Kurdish women. Every year, hundreds of Kurdish women are raped, sexually abused and slain for honor killings motives, and almost in all cases, women are involuntarily found guilty in the male-dominated traditional Kurdish society without any investigation. Myriad destitute Kurdish women are compelled to turn to prostitution to provide for their children in Kurdistan, some are forcefully drawn into it, and some are invited from foreign countries by our corrupt politicians for pleasure. Women’s trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation has given rise to spread of contagious HIV diseases lately in Kurdistan, as well.

There are a number of prominent government officials within KRG (Ministers, parliamentarians, party leaders or their close relatives) who commit this unspeakable offense against vulnerable Kurdish citizens, especially in Sulaymaniyah, Barzan, Masif, and Duhok .With millions of embezzled dollars, these disgraceful officials have purchased fancy apartments and isolated mansions only for this cause. Such sites are renowned to the law enforcement departments but nobody dares approach there. Despite public and government vast knowledge about such individuals, they still continue to maintain prestigious positions in both political parties (PUK, KDP) in Kurdistan. Is this our government and are these our sincere leaders?

There are no influential women rights agencies in Kurdistan to report such abuses to the UN Department of Human Rights, nor does a just legal system exist to prosecute the perpetrators, nor does our accomplice government bear any particular program to raise awareness among women, therefore, it is imperative for Kurdish women to stand up and speak up in sync for themselves against such injustices. The Iraqi and Kurdistan constitution strictly prohibit sexual abuse and impose heft penalties and sentences for the perpetrators. Kurdish women should no longer remain silent and allow such crimes to take place against them. No one is above the law and if no rule of law exists in Kurdistan, there are numerous international Women Rights organizations that would be more than willing to provide the victims with legal and moral support.

All these involved government corrupt officials, whose names start all the way from top leadership to the bottom, should be forced to step down.

I am positive KRG president is well aware of this fact, as well.