Died by Torture in Sulaimania – June 2004
Ismail Ahmad, known by his alias Aram Kuestani, was a member of the Islamic Movement in Kurdistan, a legitimate Islamic party in Iraqi Kurdistan. He was arrested by the Asaysh (secret police) in Sulaimania. The Asaysh claimed that he was suspected of being a member of Ansar Al-Islam, but this accusation was false. After a few days, his body was returned to his relatives, and Aram's father suspected that he had died from torture. The Asaysh had ordered the family not to remove the shroud (the funeral cloth that covers the body, which is typically placed by the family, not the police), and threatened anyone who did. An eyewitness reported a small hole in Aram’s head, which appeared to be the result of a nail being driven into his skull. Aram’s father demanded an investigation from Jalal Talabani to seek justice, but to date, no action has been taken.

Died by Torture in Erbil – June 2004
Usama Chamchamali, an Islamist Kurd from Chamchamal, west of Sulaimania, was arrested in Erbil. His body was later returned to Chamchamal. Usama was one of six detainees transferred from a jail in Erbil to the notorious Aqra prison. On their way, it was reported that the vehicle carrying the men went into a river, and all the detainees drowned, while the driver and guards were unharmed. The people of Erbil are skeptical, joking that one should not talk about the Democratic Party (the party of Barzani) for fear of drowning in Qandil waters. More details will follow.

Security Police in Sulaimania Warn Islamic Bookshops – June 2004
The Asaysh in Sulaimania shut down two Islamic bookshops and two shops selling Islamic cassettes, ordering them not to sell unlicensed books and tapes. Interestingly, many unlicensed books, some blasphemous and insulting to Islam, are sold in other shops without concern from the Asaysh.

Duhok 2003
Ja’far, the deputy of the chief of the KDP center in Duhok, killed a man from the notable Doski tribe. The KDP did not arrest the killer, prompting the tribe to threaten that they would switch their allegiance to the KDP’s rival party, PUK, unless the killer was arrested. The man was eventually taken into custody.

Erbil 2004
Naif Asooda, a famous Islamic singer in Erbil and manager of an internet café, was arrested on June 1, 2004. His arrest may be related to the authorities' attempts to control internet cafés. Rumors in Erbil suggest that the KDP has placed a member of its intelligence service, known as Parastin, in each internet café.

Erbil 2004
After the February 1, 2004 bombings in Erbil, authorities conducted raids in residential areas and searched homes. One of the "evidences" used to justify arrests was the discovery of Islamic newspapers like Komal and Yakgirtu, both licensed, as well as Islamic cassettes featuring famous and respected religious figures in Erbil.

Mulla Sherzad is Free Again
Mulla Sherzad is one of the most popular religious leaders in Erbil, known for his Friday sermons. He is so beloved that one of the conditions for marriage in the area was that Mulla Sherzad must be present to speak at the ceremony. He was arrested on December 17, 2003, without charge, sparking public anger. After much pressure from the religious community, particularly the Mullas of Erbil, the KDP Prime Minister promised to release him in June 2004, and he was freed after one month. However, before his arrest, the authorities had forbidden him from delivering his Friday sermons for three years.