PUK Asaysh arrests a Kurd for speaking out against the Iraqi constitution

"London (TheKurdistani.com) - Asaysh security forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) arrested a Kurdish man in the city of Suleimani in south [Iraqi] Kurdistan for distributing leaflets urging Kurds to vote "No" in the Iraqi referendum on the constitution draft on 15th of October reported the Suleimani-based Kurdish newspaper, Aso.

According to Aso, Salam Tawfiq was arrested on Thursday, 6th of October 2005, as he was distributing leaflets urging Kurds to vote against the Iraqi constitution.


According to Aso, the Kurdish group of Helwest Comittee (Action Committee), which consists of the Independence for Kurdistan Referendum Committee, the South Kurdistan Communist Party, Avesta Centre and the Iraqi Union of Communists, has denounced the Iraqi constitution on 8th of October in Azadi Park in Suleimani.

In an unofficial referendum in January 2005, more than 2.1 Million Kurds voted in favour of an independent Kurdistan. The Kurdish demands of "self-determination rights" were ignored during drafting Iraq's permanent constitution.

A source with the Suleimani's Asaysh forces has told Aso, that Salam Tawfiq had a huge number of anti-Iraqi constitution draft publications and he was warned not to distribute them. But Salam has gone against the wishes of the PUK Asaysh forces and distributed the leaflets.

The Kurdish political parties in south [Iraqi] Kurdistan claim that the region enjoys freedom of expression, but despite their claims, individual citizens are occasionally arrested for criticizing the Kurdish political parties and protestors are being shot at for demanding better public services."
The Kurdistani

What the Kurds need now in the KCLU to take the fight to the courts and demand the government live up to it's responsibilities, but you do need a valid constitution to protect this guys right to distribute anti constitution leaflets. Kind of a catch 22. What comes first the right, or the paper where the right is spelled out.