Parastin û Zanyarî (Sorani Kurdish: ئاژانسی پاراستن و زانیاری) (English: 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 Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) intelligence service (called Parastin) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) intelligence service (called Zanyarî) under the name of Parastin û Zanyarî. Parastin was first established in 1968 by the KDP. Parastin û Zanyarî 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's security service, Asayish, which holds jurisdiction over a number of crimes in the region including terrorism.[3]
Although founded and funded by the KDP and PUK, it officially acts under the command of the Kurdistan Regional Government.[1]
The commander in chief of the parastin agency is Mani Hana Miran, who is in command of all Parastin u zanyari agencies that are governed by Hawler.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "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. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ^ "Mew". Hrw.org. 1993-03-31. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
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