Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region rocked by political feud

Lahur Talabani, co-president of the PUK party, takes fight against ‘baseless’ allegations to court

TOPSHOT - A woman holds a child while sitting in the back of a minibus transporting Syrian refugees who have been newly refugees by the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria upon arriving at the Bardarash camp, near the Kurdish city of Dohuk, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, on October 16, 2019. Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a Turkish invasion now entering its second week, officials said. Iraqi Kurdistan previously hosted more than one million Iraqis who fled fighting with the jihadists of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017. / AFP / Safin HAMED

Men help an elderly woman after disembarking from a minibus transporting Syrians who have been recently-turned refugees by the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria upon arriving at the Bardarash camp, near the Kurdish city of Dohuk, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, on October 16, 2019. Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a Turkish invasion now entering its second week, officials said. Iraqi Kurdistan previously hosted more than one million Iraqis who fled fighting with the jihadists of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017. / AFP / Safin HAMED

epa07925962 Kurdish Syrian refugees fleeing the Turkish military operation in Syria arrive to Bradasrsh Refugee camp, in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 16 October 2019. Some 280 refugee arrived to Duhok. EPA/GAILAN HAJI

epa07925988 Kurdish Syrian refugees fleeing the Turkish military operation in Syria arrive to Bradasrsh Refugee camp, in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 16 October 2019. Some 280 refugee arrived to Duhok. EPA/GAILAN HAJI

epa07925953 Workers prepare tents before Kurdish Syrian refugees fleeing the Turkish military operation in Syria arrive to Bradasrsh Refugee camp, in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 16 October 2019. Some 280 refugee arrived to Duhok. EPA/GAILAN HAJI

People holding children disembark from a minibus transporting Syrians who have been recently-turned refugees by the Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria upon arriving at the Bardarash camp, near the Kurdish city of Dohuk, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, on October 16, 2019. Some 500 Syrian Kurds have entered neighbouring Iraqi Kurdistan over the past four days fleeing a Turkish invasion now entering its second week, officials said. Iraqi Kurdistan previously hosted more than one million Iraqis who fled fighting with the jihadists of the Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017. / AFP / Safin HAMED

TOPSHOT - Kurdish Syrian civilians flee the town of Kobani on the Turkish border on October 16, 2019 as Turkey and its allies continue their assault on Kurdish-held border towns in northeastern Syria. Turkey rebuffed international pressure to curb its military offensive against Kurdish militants in Syria today as US President Donald Trump dispatched his deputy Mike Pence to Ankara to demand a ceasefire. / AFP / Bakr ALKASEM

A political row in Iraqi Kurdistan escalated on Tuesday when a leader of one of its largest political parties said he would fight to clear his name in court.

Lahur Talabani is embroiled in a complex family dispute that has simmered for months.

The charges levelled against him are vague, but they are being led by his cousin Bafel Talabani, with whom he shares the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan presidency.

Bafel is the eldest son of the late Jalal Talabani, one of the region’s two most powerful leaders.

Lahur said he would step down from his position as co-president of the PUK party and hand over responsibilities to his cousin on the condition that a committee was formed “to reveal the truth” about what he called “baseless” allegations made against him by fellow members of the party.

“Unfortunately, it seems that my party has not been able to form this committee due to a blockade,” he said in a statement.

“After being disappointed in my party’s politburo, I decided to seek legal recourse through the Sulaimani judiciary and ask that all the accusations against me be resolved through the courts.”

The men were elected in February last year.

Lahur said he would remain in Kurdistan “until [his] last breath”, and accused government forces of trying to push him out.

Opposing sides within the PUK have a large network of business interests and well-armed supporters.

Lahur has cultivated a large network of supporters in the intelligence services in Sulaymaniyah, the PUK’s power base, in eastern Kurdistan.

Bafel stands accused by some observers of making moves to consolidate growing influence over the party. He has reportedly replaced high-ranking officials with loyalists and changed his title to President of the PUK on public forums.

His appointment of Iran-allied Salman Amin as director of the PUK’s intelligence agency and Wahad Halabji as head of the counter-terrorism agency also indicates a departure from Lahur’s position as a US ally.

In another shake-up, Bafel’s brother Qubad Talabani, who is Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdish Region, will lead a coalition comprising the PUK and its competing Gorran party before Iraq’s parliamentary elections in October.

Lahur was instrumental in brokering the PUK-Gorran agreement.

He was also a player, within a joint effort with the Kurdish region’s Peshmerga militia, in the fight against ISIS.

The PUK shares power with the Erbil-based Kurdish Democratic Party, although smaller political parties have emerged in recent years. The Peshmerga’s support is is divided between the KDP and PUK.

Lahur has close ties with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and both men previously led the Kurdish Region Intelligence Forces.

On Monday, a crowd of Lahur’s supporters gathered outside his home with more protests expected in the coming hours.