London – June 4, 2025
Today, the Dakok Organisation for Right and Freedom held a powerful public demonstration to raise international awareness about the ongoing economic and political oppression faced by Kurdish civil servants in Iraq. The event, attended by supporters, activists, and representatives of human rights organisations, served as a direct appeal to the UK Government to take immediate diplomatic and humanitarian action.
In a passionate statement issued during the demonstration, Dakok condemned the longstanding systematic discrimination and marginalisation of Kurdish citizens by successive Iraqi governments. The organisation criticised policies that have deliberately impoverished civil servants in the Kurdistan Region, comparing their treatment to that of public employees in other parts of Iraq, and described the worsening situation as a clear case of ethnic and class discrimination.
“Although there were glimpses of progress in recent years, with some signs that the judiciary might act independently and fairly,” the statement read, “it is now evident that the courts themselves have fallen under the control of political agendas.”
The protestors also directed sharp criticism toward the Kurdish authorities, particularly the dominant political parties—the PUK and KDP—accusing them of gross mismanagement, corruption, and negligence. According to Dakok, the parties have failed to pay civil servants, created limited employment opportunities, and privatised essential services, all while profiting from the region’s natural wealth and border revenues.
The organisation called for the prosecution of corrupt leaders and their heirs, asserting that accountability is the only path forward for a better Kurdistan. Dakok also reaffirmed its commitment to nonviolent struggle, promising to continue its campaign to inform international bodies about the dire situation in the region.
A Call for UK Action
One of the key messages of today’s demonstration was a direct appeal to the UK Government to use its diplomatic channels to pressure both Baghdad and the Kurdish regional authorities into respecting the rights and livelihoods of all citizens. Dakok urged the UK to consider the deteriorating human rights situation in any future political, financial, or developmental engagement with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“This is not a local matter,” said a Dakok representative. “This is a question of basic human dignity and international justice. We ask the UK Government to stand on the side of freedom, equality, and accountability.”
Dakok Organisation for Right and Freedom continues to stand at the forefront of civil advocacy in the Kurdish diaspora and vows to keep mobilising until tangible results are achieved for Kurdistan’s long-suffering civil servants and citizens.
