At a Glance

• The Rusafa Court in Baghdad issued a temporary order (Amar Walai) suspending all measures and decisions taken against Korek Telecom.
• In remarks to Channel8, Korek CEO Sirwan Barzani detailed how the ruling successfully freezes ongoing property seizures, asset freezes, and branch closures executed by regulatory authorities.
• Sirwan Barzani denounced the initial actions by the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) as illegal, politically motivated, and unjust during his remarks to Channel8.

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Speaking to Channel8, Korek Telecom CEO Sirwan Barzani revealed that a Baghdad court has stepped in to issue an emergency injunction, successfully halting sweeping enforcement actions and office shutdowns targeting the mobile provider.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Defense of Legal Rights: Korek Telecom expressed deep faith in judicial channels to protect its operations and rectify what it termed arbitrary and unlawful regulatory steps.
• Challenging Regulatory Overreach: Company owner and CEO Sirwan Barzani criticized the actions taken by the head of the Communications and Media Commission, arguing in his statement to Channel 8 that prior rulings intended to paralyze the firm lacked a proper legal foundation.
• Dispute Over Settlements: The standoff follows months of escalating tensions regarding debt claims, license renewals, and the abrupt cancellation of prior administrative settlement agreements.

"The Rusafa Court's decision to suspend these measures is an essential step toward upholding justice against baseless and politically driven actions targeting our operations." — Sirwan Barzani (speaking to Channel8)

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Court Injunction and Operational Status

As highlighted in the interview with Channel8, the Rusafa Court in Baghdad issued a temporary judicial injunction halting the implementation of all punitive measures executed against Korek Telecom.

The emergency order directly responds to the recent closure of the company's main headquarters in Baghdad's Jadiriyah district, along with three major sales centers, which were carried out in coordination with national security bodies. Under the new court order, property seizures and operational suspensions have been put on hold while legal proceedings advance.

Regulatory Claims and Corporate Conflict

The underlying conflict stems from long-standing friction between the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) and Korek Telecom. The regulatory body previously asserted that the company owed approximately 1.5 billion dollars to the state treasury and moved to cancel previous settlement options.

While the CMC defended its enforcement actions as necessary to protect public funds and enforce telecommunications compliance, Korek has maintained that the regulatory escalation bypasses lawful governmental agreements and threatens millions of subscribers across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

FYI

This judicial intervention arrives amid intense restructuring within Iraq's telecommunications landscape. As federal authorities push forward with initiatives to introduce alternative market operators, modernize digital infrastructure, and prepare the groundwork for advanced technological frameworks, regulatory bodies are exercising tighter oversight over legacy licensing agreements. The ongoing legal battles highlighted in reports by Channel8 underscore the delicate balance between enforcing state financial claims and maintaining stability across vital digital and communication networks.

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