In February 2025, 54 peaceful civil protest activities took place across the four provinces of the Kurdistan Region, marking a 13% increase from the 48 recorded in January. The majority of protests focused on demands for salaries and employment. Security forces responded with force to two of these protests.

According to monitoring by the Alliance 19 Network, the primary demand in these protests was salary payments, accounting for 41% of all demands, followed by employment concerns at 17%, and service-related grievances at 9%.

Provincial Distribution of Protests:

• Sulaimani: 61% of all activities
• Erbil: 31%
• Duhok: 6%
• Halabja: 2%

Security Forces’ Response:

• 47 protests proceeded peacefully
• 2 were met with force
• 3 received official warnings
• 2 resulted in violent clashes

Breakdown of Protest Demands:

• 22 for salary payments
• 9 for employment opportunities
• 5 for improved public services
• 4 related to debt issues
• 2 advocating for farmers’ rights
• 1 calling for respect for demonstrators’ rights
• 2 addressing women’s rights
• 2 demanding confirmation of appointments
• 7 for other concerns

Forms of Protest:

• 42 public gatherings/assemblies
• 8 sit-ins and demonstrations
• 2 street protests
• 1 labor strike
• 1 emergency protest

Organizers & Participants:

• 15 led by teachers and civil servants
• 8 by unemployed graduates
• 9 by independent citizens
• 3 by business owners and workers
• 2 by women’s rights groups
• 5 by political parties
• 2 by youth groups
• 2 by lawyers
• 3 by employees from the oil/gas and martyrs’ families sector
• 5 by other groups