Witness Retracts Testimony in Lahur Sheikh Jangi Trial, Claims Confession Was Obtained Under Torture
Peregraf — A witness in the trial of Lahur Sheikh Jangi recanted his earlier statements during a court hearing in Sulaymaniyah on Wednesday, claiming his testimony had been obtained under torture.
The hearing was held at the Sulaymaniyah Criminal Court for Lahur Sheikh Jangi, his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi, and 10 other defendants in connection with the August 2025 Lalezar incident.
A source present at the session told Peregraf that after reviewing the case files, the defendants and their lawyers presented their statements before the court.
According to the source, a witness who had previously testified against Lahur Sheikh Jangi during the investigation phase withdrew his earlier statements before the judge.
The witness, reportedly a bodyguard for detained defendant Rebwar Hamid Haji Ghali, said he had made the statements "under torture" and that he was "severely beaten and mistreated" at the time of his arrest.
The court later adjourned the hearing without announcing a date for the next session.
Charges Against Lahur Sheikh Jangi
The defendants face two separate legal cases related to the August 2025 clashes in Sulaymaniyah.
The first case falls under Article 56 of the Iraqi Penal Code and is based on complaints filed by Bafel Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The charges include attempted murder and alleged plotting to overthrow the party leadership.
The second case falls under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code and concerns murder charges related to the deadly Lalezar confrontation.
Background of the Lalezar Incident
The case stems from clashes on August 22, 2025, when security forces moved to execute an arrest warrant against Lahur Sheikh Jangi — leader of the People's Front (Bereyî Gel) and former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) — at the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaymaniyah, which served as his residence and political headquarters.
Units from the Asayish, Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG), and Commando forces surrounded the area, leading to armed confrontations with fighters loyal to Sheikh Jangi, referred to as the "Scorpion Force."
The clashes involved heavy gunfire and explosions lasting more than three hours.
At least four people were killed, dozens were injured, and more than 100 individuals were detained, according to reports at the time.
Lahur Sheikh Jangi previously served as co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) alongside his cousin Bafel Talabani before being removed from the party leadership in July 2021.
He subsequently founded the People's Front (Bereyî Gel) in January 2024.
The case remains one of the most closely watched political and legal disputes in the Kurdistan Region amid continuing tensions within Kurdish politics and the PUK.