Network 19: rejects the arrest and prosecution of parliamentarians during their parliamentary duties because of their opinions. Members of parliament should freely and independently perform their duties without fear of prosecution or intimidation. Release (Sipan Amedi) immediately.

Security forces arrested Sipan Amedi, a member of the Kurdistan Regional Government parliament from the Naway Nwe faction, in Duhok province on Sunday. 

"They kidnapped him and took him to an unknown location," the faction said, citing the reason for his criticism of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader.

According to Article 24 of the Rules of Procedure of the Kurdistan Parliament, "a member shall have parliamentary immunity from the date of taking the oath and cannot deviate from it without the permission of the Parliament”, "Members have full freedom of speech and expression during the performance of parliamentary work, in a manner that respects the constitutional institutions of the region within the framework of applicable laws.”

Earlier on Thursday, June 26th, security forces arrested Ali Hama Salih, the leader of the Halwest faction, in Sulaimani, and he was released the same day.

According to the rules of procedure of the parliament, "the decision to lift the parliamentary immunity requires a majority vote of the parliament and outside the legislative sessions, the presidency will decide to lift it. A police or security station cannot lift this immunity.

Network 19 rejects the arrest and prosecution of parliamentarians during their parliamentary duties, because of their opinions, members of parliament should freely and independently perform their duties without fear of prosecution or intimidation. Release (Sipan Amedi) immediately.