ERBIL — The criminal court of Kirkuk on Wednesday sentenced Rebwar Talabani, a Kurdish figure and head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, to six months in prison.

According to the verdict, a copy of which was seen by BasNews, Talabani was sentenced in absentia while his lawyer was present during the session.

It also ordered the Iraqi police and security forces to arrest Talabani based on an arrest warrant.

Talabani was among the key figures in Kirkuk advocating the independence referendum of Kurdistan in 2017. He also agreed with the decision to raise the Kurdistan flag on Kirkuk government buildings which later angered Baghdad.

The Kurdish official has left Kirkuk for security concerns since the province has fallen into the hands of the Iraqi army and Shi’ite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi.

Bas News