In February 2025, 54 peaceful civil protests were held in four provinces of the Kurdistan Region, most of which demanded salaries and employment, two of which were treated
with force.
Compared to last month's protests in January, which were (48) activities, protests increased by 13%.
According to Network 19’s observations, most of the activities and protests were for salaries, which accounted for 41% of the total demands, 17% for employment and 9% for services.
According to Network 19, 61% of the activities were in Sulaimani, 31% in Erbil, 6% in Duhok and 2% in Halabja.
In February, the largest strike of teachers and employees was organized in Sulaimani, which lasted from January 28th to February 11th, 2025, then the hunger strike ended in a large mass march at the demand of all sections of society.
During the two weeks of the activity, the security forces and the civil administration of Sulaimani were responsible for protecting and monitoring the health situation and providing public services.
On Sunday (February 9th, 2025), some of the hunger strikers and others from Sulaimani and other cities drove to Erbil to gather in front of the UNAMI office in Erbil, but were prevented from entering by security forces at the Degala checkpoint, the Interior Ministry accused the action of "outside hands and backwardness.”
Security forces used tear gas and plastic bullets to disperse them, as a result, some of the participants suffered from shortness of breath, some of them were injured due to being pushed and chased, violence was also used against journalists and some of their journalistic equipment was confiscated.
Also on Sunday, February 23rd, a group of teachers and employees organized a demonstration on the main street of Arbat - Halabja, Arbat - Penjwen and declared refuge on the street and set up tents.
The teachers and employees blocked the street for the traffic of fuel tankers.
On Monday evening, February 24th, 2025, a large number of security forces moved to Arbat, after the force arrived, the tents were attacked, some of the participants were the strikers of the previous protest, they blamed this act on the security forces, "A force in civilian clothes entered the tent and then a large number of security forces surrounded the tent and then attacked the teachers' tent," they told the media.
This led to the forcible dispersion of the strikers, which injured a teacher, several participants of the strike and several journalists were detained for several hours, then released, while the private vehicles of some of the teachers participating in the protest were seized without any reason, they were later handed back to their owners.
According to international standards for dealing with demonstrations, when security forces intervene in demonstrations that pose a legitimate threat to the safety and rights of others.
If security forces attempt to stop or restrict a demonstration, this intervention must be proportionate and necessary, or in other words, the benefit must outweigh the harm, with the least possible restriction of rights.
Network 19 will continue to promote, protect and monitor the right to freedom of expression in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, emphasizing the need to ensure respect for this right as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
About Network 19 Freedom Monitoring:
It is a human rights monitoring network of human rights defenders and civil society organizations, led by the Metro Center.
It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which refers to the right to freedom of expression as an independent article:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”