Former political prisoners submit their demands to Parliament’s committee

27 August - MPs in the Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee met representatives of a group of former political prisoners asking for more financial compensation, after they demonstrated in front of the Parliament building.

The representatives submitted their demands in writing and asked the committee to raise them in Parliament. They asked for amendments to Law No. 11 of 2011 on the rights and privileges of Kurdistan’s former political prisoners; and to increase their pensions and privileges to the same level as those of political prisoners in Iraq, who receive much more.

The political prisoners’ representatives also asked for a solution to the problems related to the 10-year grant, saying that it violates Article 132 of the Iraqi Constitution which guarantees care for former political prisoners and their families.

The committee chair Mrs Sawsan Mirkhan (KDP) and the MPs said that they will follow up on the former political prisoners’ demands and will make every effort to help them receive all the required services.