The increasing rate of crime in the Kurdistan Region is directly linked to the failure to enforce the law and the political practice of allowing party-affiliated individuals to openly trade weapons and narcotics. In many cases, even expired food and goods are sold in local markets, with no accountability. This situation has turned the Kurdistan Region into a hub for illegal trade, harming not only local residents but also people in neighboring areas of Iraq.
Alarmingly, weapons purchased within the region are often supplied—sometimes even through official agreements—to certain Peshmerga factions, only to be resold in the black market. The profits generated from these transactions are funneled back into party and personal accounts. This cycle has contributed to a significant rise in violent crimes, including murder and armed robbery.
The lack of independent judiciary power, political interference in governance, and the shielding of criminals through tribal mediation instead of formal legal processes have created a culture of impunity. As a result, perpetrators often escape justice, reoffend, and commit even more serious crimes.
Economic factors further compound the crisis. Years of political mismanagement, unpaid salaries, unemployment, and financial instability have pushed many individuals toward desperate measures, including theft, violence, and in some tragic cases, suicide. Despite the presence of qualified psychologists and social experts in the region, their expertise is rarely utilized in addressing the social and psychological roots of this crisis.
A comprehensive, multi-level response is urgently needed to end this manufactured crisis in the Kurdistan Region and to restore peace, justice, and security for ordinary citizens.
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