At a time when the Turkish state is expanding its occupation attacks and increasing its pressure on Baghdad, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council has decided to dissolve the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ), Tevgera Azadi ya Civaka Kurdistanê (Kurdistan Freedom Movement) and the Democratic Struggle Front Party.

Following the announcement of the decision, PADÊ made a statement at the headquarters of the Politburo in Sinun district of Shengal and requested that the judicial decision be reviewed.

Participated in elections three times

Süleyman Hacı, a PADÊ Politburo member and Sulaymaniyah Representative, said: "As the Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ), we want the decision taken by the Judicial Council to be reviewed once again. Our party's statute was prepared within the scope of Article 40 and our party was established in 2017 according to the Iraqi Political Parties Law. Our party has also participated in the elections held in Iraq three times. All our work to date has been carried out within the framework of the law, and we have not been faced with any accusation that it is illegal. All our leaders have been elected by the people."

Related to Erdoğan's visit

Stressing that this decision was not independent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Baghdad, Süleyman Hacı said: "While we respect the decision of the judiciary, we believe that false information was given about our party and the groups that support us. The decision was made especially after Erdoğan's arrival."

PADÊ drew attention to the fact that the decision of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council was made especially on the 10th anniversary of the genocidal attacks on Shengal on 3 August 2014, and reacted by saying: "How can such a decision be made on such a day when our people were subjected to genocide? How can the feelings and suffering of our people be approached in this way?"

Decision made without investigation

PADÊ said that an investigation should be conducted before a decision is made and stated the following: “Why was no investigation conducted before a legal decision was made? On what basis was the decision to close our party made? We did not steal a single penny to finance our party, and we did not receive a single penny of aid from the state. We continue our work thanks to the financial aid provided by our people abroad."

We will work to reverse the decision

Süleyman Hacı said that they "will work to have the decision reversed," and added: "We will present all evidence and documents to the relevant court showing that we have no relations with any other power. We hope that the laws will be applied equally to everyone without discrimination. Everyone should know very well that the existence of our party is not a threat to the country."