Peregraf
Salahaddin Bahaaddin has been re-elected as the Secretary General of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), also referred to as Yakgirtu, during its ninth congress held today. He has held the position of Secretary General in seven out of the last eight congresses and has served in this role for a total of 26 years. The ninth congress of Yakgirtu, which was established in 1994, is currently attended by over 800 members and has consistently convened on schedule.
In his address on the opening day of the ninth congress of the KIU on December 27, 2024, Salahaddin Bahaaddin remarked, “We do not take pride in Kurdish nationalism nor do we indulge in self-aggrandizement; however, we reject the boastfulness of those who, through their corruption, warmongering, and malevolence, attempt to claim superiority in Kurdishness and patriotism over us.”
He further asserted, “In response to these peculiar assertions, we maintain that we regard ourselves as more authentically Kurdish than those who profess to be so.”
Salahaddin Bahaaddin has been elected Secretary General at seven previous congresses and remains the sole candidate for this position in the current congress.
Addressing the situation in Syria, Bahaaddin stated, "The shortcomings of the Kurdish political experience in Syria will adversely affect the Kurdistan Region. We have forged relationships to avert this, and it is imperative that the rights of the Kurdish people are enshrined in the constitution."
In the recent parliamentary elections in Kurdistan, Yakgirtu emerged as the fourth most successful party. The final results from the sixth session of the Kurdistan Parliament, which took place on October 20, 2024, indicate that Yakgirtu has made notable gains in both votes and seats compared to the 2018 elections.
Yakgirtu in the last Kurdistan parliamentary elections:
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) garnered 117,444 votes across four provinces, reflecting an increase of 38,100 votes from the 79,434 votes it received in the 2018 elections, during which it was in coalition with the Islamic Movement. Additionally, the number of seats held by the KIU rose from five to seven. Furthermore, the KIU secured over 6% of the total valid votes cast in the Kurdistan Region.