SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Bafel Jalal Talabani on Tuesday apologized to students who faced violence during protests last week.
Thousands of university and institute students protested in the Kurdistan Region last week, calling on the government to resume payment of their monthly stipends halted since 2014.
In a statement, Talabani expressed “deep concern” over violence against students during the protests.
“I apologize to my sons, daughters, sisters and brothers who are stepping towards a brighter future with hope in order not to turn off the lamp of science and their livings, and demand their rights and livelihoods on the streets,” Talabani said.
Talabani called on the students to use civil ways to call for their demands and avoid violence and break the law.
“Don’t allow some opportunists to mislead your demands. This does not serve your wishes. I ask you never choose or think about this way,” he added.
Talabani also promised the students that they would make “big changes” to fulfill their demands and to solve the shortcomings, according to the statement.
“From now on, we will work closer with youths and students for a brighter future for our people, and I will also advocate for achieving your wishes,” he added.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has suspended the distribution of students’ stipends since 2014, when the Region was hit by an economic crisis due to a drop in oil prices, the fight against Islamic State (ISIS) and the wave of displaced people and refugees who headed to Kurdish for shelter.
Students were paid 30,000-100,000 Iraqi dinars ($20.5-$68.5) per month.
To solve the issue, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) decided to allocate a budget for the ministry of higher education and scientific research to assist students who are in need and to solve the issues of dormitories.
Talabani who met a group of students in Sulaimani on Sunday said they would work to find a “mechanism” to solve the issues of the students.
“We listened to the students’ demands,” Talabani said following the meeting, noting that their demands were correct.
“I really expected the government to have taken care of them better. Sadly, we haven’t been able to meet their demands. We will find a mechanism to meet their demands,” he continued.
