Teachers and public sector employees held a demonstration in Dohuk Azadi Park on Saturday over delays in the disbursement of their salaries. The security forces arrested around 100 protesters, a total that excludes journalists, camera operators, and reporters covering the protest since they were observers and not participants in the demonstration.
Duhok Governorate Security Council said on Saturday night that the protesters did not have permission to protest in the city and that they will be held responsible in accordance with the law.
The PUK office further condemned Duhok security forces in arresting protesters and participants in the demonstrations and supported the protesters and their demands.
Baghdad has refused to send to Erbil the region,s 12 percent share of budget, accusing the region of not sending its oil to the central government according to the deal between the Kurdish autonomous government and Baghdad.
According to the statement posted on the official website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the demonstration has been held because of the dire economic situation of the employees, in wake of no recieved salaries and the consequences of the coronavirus crisis.
It also noted that the party supports the protests within the Kurdistan Regional Law, considers the protest's demands legitimate and called for the security forces in Duhok to release all those arrested as soon as possible.
Dohuk and Erbil provinces in the Kurdish Region are under the control of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), while the PUK controls the Sulaimani, Halabja, Raprin and Garmiyan areas.
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