Slemani — The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) announced the arrest of three suspected members of the extremist group ISIS in operations carried out in Slemani and Kirkuk, accusing them of using social media platforms to spread extremist propaganda and recruit young people.
According to a statement issued by the General Directorate of Asayish Operations, the arrests were conducted between April and June based on intelligence information and after extensive field surveillance. The agency said the operations were carried out under judicial warrants in both Slemani and Kirkuk.
Asayish alleged that the suspects managed accounts across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube, where they published videos, images, and written material promoting ISIS ideology.
The security agency said the detainees admitted during questioning that they had used the platforms to target young people and teenagers, encouraging them to embrace extremist beliefs and attempting to persuade them to join ISIS and travel to areas under the group’s control.
According to Asayish, the suspects had previously attempted to flee but were prevented from doing so due to security measures and road closures.
The three individuals are being held under Article 2 of Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law, while investigations into the case remain ongoing.
The arrests come as Kurdish security forces continue counterterrorism operations aimed at disrupting ISIS networks operating in the Kurdistan Region and disputed territories, with authorities increasingly warning that extremist groups are using online platforms to disseminate propaganda and recruit supporters.
