The Kurdistan Regional Security Agency announced the arrest of a preacher (Khatib) after tensions erupted in a Sulaymaniyah mosque over the cleric's inflammatory remarks about Western Kurdistan (Rojava), accusing members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of being "non-Muslims."

During Friday prayers at the Bakhtawari Mosque in Sulaymaniyah’s Raparin neighborhood, tensions arose when the preacher, Haval Faris Mawloud, delivered his sermon. The congregation interrupted and prevented him from completing his speech and ultimately took him down from the pulpit.

The recent clashes between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and the Syrian army, along with its affiliated factions, in the Kurdish neighborhood of Aleppo—encompassing areas such as Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh—have garnered widespread support from Kurds both within the Kurdish community globally and across all four parts of Kurdistan.

Witnesses: Preacher Criticizes SDF, Sparks Tension

According to witnesses, the mosque's preacher criticized the SDF during his sermon, which provoked a reaction from the worshipers and prevented him from completing his speech. Tensions then escalated, prompting security forces to arrive at the mosque, where they detained the preacher and took him away.

A witness told Channel8 that when the cleric mentioned the fighters, the people got angry and stood up.

The witness confirmed that the cleric said that SDF and the fighters "are not Muslims" and should not be supported.

Official Warns of Action if Cleric Denounces Fighters as Non-Muslims

Speaking to Channel8 on the incident, Hawzhin Rauf, Director General of Endowments in the city, noted that if it is confirmed that the cleric expressed in his speech that he does not support the fighters because they are not Muslims, then appropriate action will be taken to remove him from the pulpit.

Kurdistan Security Agency Detains Cleric for ‘Inappropriate’ Remarks

Kurdistan Region Security Agency stated that the preacher was a volunteer and has used "inappropriate phrases" against Kurds in Western Kurdistan during today’s prayer.

The agency clarified that the security (Asayish) immediately transferred the cleric to the Directorate to end the tensions.

According to the agency, the preacher, Mawloud, is an engineer and volunteers at the mosque. 

The suspect has been detained under Article 240 of the Iraqi Penal Code, and the investigation continues, the agency added.