Erbil Police Misled: Peregraf Unveils True Origin of Controversial Video Linked to Arrest of Kurdistan MP's Friend
Peregraf
On February 10, 2025, security agencies in Erbil apprehended an associate of parliamentarian Ali Hama Saleh, accusing him of recording a video intended to incite instability within the Kurdistan Region. The following day, February 11, 2025, authorities disclosed the confession of the detained individual. The Erbil police released a video featuring a former bodyguard and current associate of Ali Hama Saleh, which they characterized as a "confession." Erbil Security agencies asserted that the video had been disseminated through media channels that are perceived as antagonistic to the Kurdistan Region's governance and aimed at jeopardizing the security of Kurdistan Region, specifically mentioning the Sabrin News Telegram channel, which is recognized for its connections to Iraqi Shiite factions and its support for Iranian policies in Iraq.
However, a detailed investigation by Peregraf has revealed that the video in question, published by Sabrin News and cited by the police as belonging to Ali Hama Saleh, actually originates from KNN. Sabrin News obtained the footage from KNN and reposted it on its Telegram channel just 24 minutes after it was uploaded to KNN's official Facebook page. Notably, Sabrin News did not alter the video's background music, which was produced by KNN, before adding its own logo.
A source within KNN confirmed to Peregraf that the video belongs to their channel. According to available data, KNN published the video on February 9, 2025, at 10:58 AM, while Sabrin News republished the same video at 11:22 AM after cropping the KNN logo.
Screenshot of the video posted on Sabrine News Telegram
The footage was originally recorded on February 9, when a large security force was deployed in Erbil to prevent teachers and government employees from protesting against the ongoing salary crisis. Hundreds of teachers traveled from Sulaimaniyah to Erbil to demonstrate, but were blocked from entering the city by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces.
The arrest of Ali Hama Saleh’s friend has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning the legality of filming and documenting security force deployments. Critics have asked on what legal grounds such actions are deemed illegal. Notably, the police statement did not cite any specific legal provisions but instead framed the charges as "disrupting regional security."
Ali Hama Saleh Responds to the Allegations
The Erbil police claimed that the suspect, Adam Osman Sulaiman, was involved in spreading misleading content. Their statement read:
"Recently, on platforms opposed to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), certain photos, videos, and misinformation have been published to mislead the public and incite unrest. The Erbil Police Directorate, in coordination with the Erbil Security Directorate, conducted a thorough investigation and identified individuals behind these campaigns.
One of them, Adam Osman Sulaiman, was arrested on Sunday. He worked as a driver for Kurdistan MP Ali Hama Saleh while the MP was recording videos at various locations, which were later posted on these platforms to mislead the public and incite disruption."
In the video released by the police, Adam Osman Sulaiman stated: "Mr. Ali called me while I was driving. We went to the UN office, where he recorded a video. Then, we proceeded to the Parliament, and he recorded another video. I don’t know where he sent them or for what purpose. Later, we traveled to the Degalla checkpoint, and then we saw the videos published on Sabrin News."
Ali Hama Saleh, responding to Peregraf, refuted the police’s claims: "I recorded videos in front of Parliament and the Council of Ministers, where security forces were preventing people from assembling. As a parliamentarian, I have the right to document public events, and there is no law that prohibits recording videos in public spaces.
The video released by the police has nothing to do with me. I only posted a video showing security forces in front of the Council of Ministers. The video they are using against me is fabricated."
Saleh further condemned the arrest: "Why is recording in public spaces considered a crime? Adam was simply assisting me. His arrest is not only unlawful but also an attack on me personally. This is a matter of freedom."
Interior Ministry’s Prior Accusations
Before the Erbil police case, on February 9, 2025 when demonstrators reached the Degalla checkpoint from Sulaymaniyah, security forces responded with obstruction and violence.
The Interior Ministry issued a statement accusing external and internal parties, including the PKK, of "exploiting the protests to destabilize the region."
"It is noteworthy that some domestic and foreign groups in Iraq seek to exploit these protests for their own suspicious agendas. Certain factions, including the PKK, are using this opportunity to disrupt regional security and blur the legitimate demands of government employees with their own political motives."
Such accusations are not new to the Kurdish public. Similar charges were levied against dozens of journalists and civil activists in Badinan—many of whom remain imprisoned.
Teachers and Employees Continue Their Protest
For 15 days, teachers and government employees have been on strike. Thirteen educators have staged a hunger strike outside the UN office in Sulaymaniyah, demanding the restoration of their salaries and job promotions.
They are calling for the unpaid salaries from December 2024 to be disbursed, but the KRG has yet to respond.
This morning, in a show of solidarity, many businesses in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja temporarily shut down in support of the striking teachers.
A source from the Sulaymaniyah healthcare sector told Peregraf: "Three hunger strikers—Zana Sheikh Mohammed, Dilshad Mirani, and Dilshad Baban—have suffered internal bleeding due to prolonged starvation and require urgent medical attention."
The source warned: "If the strike continues, their health will deteriorate further, and their lives will be at serious risk."