KRG acknowledges Kurdish group calling for extermination of Assyrians

In recent years, a fringe Kurdish political group known as Hawpa has emerged in northern Iraq, under Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) control. While small in numbers, its openly extremist ideology–rooted in fascist and neo-Nazi traditions–has generated deep alarm among Iraq’s indigenous Assyrians.

The controversy intensified in June 2025 when the KRG granted Hawpa official recognition as a political movement, prompting two leading Assyrian organizations in Europe to issue a joint condemnation. Critics warn that legitimizing such a group risks normalizing dangerous ideologies and undermining Iraq’s fragile pluralism.

Origins of Hawpa

Hawpa was established on the first day of Nowruz 2020. In Sorani Kurdish, “hawpa” means “accomplice” or “person of the same type,” while in Kurmanji Kurdish the group is also referred to as the “Kurdish National Socialist Organization” (PSNK). This name reflects its self-proclaimed ideological alignment with Nazi-style ethnic nationalism.

From its founding, Hawpa has used online platforms such as Instagram and Telegram to promote its agenda. Among its stated positions–some of which were later removed from its official website but preserved through the Internet Archive–was the explicit call for Assyrians to be genocided. These statements have been documented and translated from Kurdish into English by independent researchers, including Assyrian writer Fredrick Aprim.

Hostility Toward Assyrians and Other Minorities

Hawpa’s hostility toward minorities is not rhetorical alone. Its online materials have circulated conspiracy theories accusing Assyrian and Yazidi communities of collaboration with foreign powers. Such narratives, Assyrian organizations warn, create a climate of fear that encourages harassment, intimidation, and even property seizures in historically Assyrian towns of the Nineveh Plain Region and elsewhere.

The group’s website previously contained distorted accounts of Assyrian history, portraying the Assyrian nation in a negative light. While these were later removed, archived versions confirm their presence.

KRG Recognition and the Assyrian Response

In June 2025, the KRG officially recognized Hawpa as a legal political entity. The move was met with swift condemnation from the Union of Assyrian Associations in Germany and Europe (ZAVD) and the Union of Assyrian Youth in Central Europe (AJM).

In a joint statement, these organizations described the recognition as “a moral betrayal of Iraq’s diverse heritage” and a step that “legitimizes extremist ideology.” They noted the clear Nazi influence in Hawpa’s emblem and warned that the decision signaled an alarming acceptance of war-time symbols of genocide within Iraqi Kurdish political life.

The statement also criticized high-profile receptions of Hawpa representatives by senior KRG officials, including the governor of Arbilu (Erbil). The Assyrian organizations appealed to the European Parliament, European Commission, and other international bodies to pressure the KRG to revoke Hawpa’s official status.

Broader Context and Possible Motives

Observers and activists have speculated about why the KRG would allow such a group to operate legally. Some argue that the KRG seeks to contrast itself with an even more extreme actor, thereby making its own record toward minorities appear more favorable by comparison.

Critics point out that while the KRG often presents itself internationally as a protector of Assyrians, Christians and other minorities, it has not implemented key protections outlined in UN declarations on indigenous rights, particularly regarding the Assyrians. Reports of land confiscations, political marginalization, and demographic pressure in Assyrian areas of the Region have persisted for years.

By licensing Hawpa, these critics contend, the KRG risks fueling radicalism and deepening distrust among minorities who already are underrepresented and vulnerable.