KRG fires police over alleged human trafficking

By Idris Okuducu

ERBIL, Iraq

Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdish-controlled region have dismissed dozens of police officers alleged involvement in human trafficking, local media reported on Thursday.

Saadun Hawdiyani, for the Soran Police Department near the regional capital Erbil, said under instructions from the Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) Interior Ministry, the police department dismissed 100 police officers for involvement in human trafficking.

Hawdiyani said the accusations against the dismissed police officers include misconduct, taking advantage of the public interest, and human trafficking.

Erbil’s Soran district is located south of Turkey’s Hakkari province. Since 2011, more than 200,000 refugees have fled from Syria to the Kurdish-controlled region.