Parastin
Parastin u Zanyari (Kurdish for protection and information)[1] is a government agency and the primary investigative arm belonging to the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq.[1] The organization is now a governmental agency that was established after combining and uniting KDP's intelligence service (called Parastin) and PUK's intelligence service (called Zanyari) under the name of Parastin u Zanyari. Parastin was first established in 1968 by the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq. Parastin u Zanyari has been sometimes referred to as a "Kurdish intelligence service".[2] The primary function of the agency is investigation of crimes relating to both the internal and external security of the Kurdistan region.[1] The agency officially has no power to arrest or detain but shares intelligence with the Kurdistan intelligence agency, Asayish, which holds jurisdiction over a number of crimes in the region including terrorism.[3]
Although founded and funded by the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, it officially acts under the command of the Kurdistan Regional Government.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Caught in the Whirlwind: Torture and Denial of Due Process by the Kurdistan Security Forces: V. The Kurdish Security Forces (Asayish)". Hrw.org. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ↑ Cockburn, Patrick. "PKK tactics may drive Turkey into a reluctant invasion | Middle East | News". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ↑ "Mew". Hrw.org. 1993-03-31. Retrieved 2016-02-29.