On November 14, 2022, state security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at University of Sulaimani students protesting for lower tuition fees.
Students protested outside the entrance of the university on a major highway, disrupting campus. Source indicate that police fired tear gas and water cannons in an apparent effort to force students to disperse or return to the inside of the campus. Some of the protesters reportedly threw stones in return and the university president reported acts of vandalism within the campus, though he believed that individuals unaffiliated with the university were involved in those acts, not students. A number of journalists were reportedly detained briefly during the protest.
On the same day of the protest, the university administration issued a statement ordering a suspension of academic activities, citing concerns for student safety, while also expressing support for the students’ protest demands.
One day earlier, similar clashes broke out with riot police confronting students with tear gas (see report).
Scholars at Risk is concerned by police clashing with and using tear gas against peaceful student protesters. While state security forces have a responsibility to maintain order and safety, they also have an obligation to exercise restraint and refrain from disproportionate responses. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, the use of force against peaceful student protesters undermines democratic society.
Sources:
https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2022/11/iraq-protest-ongoing-at-the-university-of-sulaymaniyah-in-sulaymaniyah-nov-14
https://shafaq.com/ar/كوردســتانيات/اشتباكات-بين-طلبة-محتجين-وقوات-ال-من-مام-جامعة-السليمانية
https://shafaq.com/ar/كوردســتانيات/لحماية-رواح-الطلبة-تعليق-الدراسة-في-جامعة-السليمانية
https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/Students-clash-with-law-enforcement-in-al-Sulaymaniyah-University
https://shafaq.com/ar/كوردســتانيات/ياد-خفية-ورا-الاعتدا-على-جامعة-السليمانية-وسط-تجدد-التظاهرات
https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/kurdistan/1411202213
https://peregraf.com/ku/news/4921/خۆپیشاندانی-خوێندکاران-لە-سلێمانی-بەردەوامەو-هێزە-ئەمنییەکان-ڕێگە-بە-ڕووماڵی-میدیاکان-نادەن
https://twitter.com/MahmoodYKurdi/status/1592209912549232640
https://twitter.com/ahadtv/status/1592097001193496578
https://twitter.com/KuAlahad/status/1592089700805722112