Lahur Talabany

Lahur Talabani (; born 1975), also known as Lahur Sheikh Jangi Talabani , and more commonly as Sheikh Lahur, is an Iraqi intelligence official and politician who has been a leading figure in the fight against terror, especially against the Islamic State. He was Director of the Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) from 2002 to 2013, Director of the Zanyarî Agency from 2013, and co-leader of the PUK from 2020 to 2021. When ousted from the PUK after losing a leadership battle, Lahur founded his own party, the People's Front, in 2024.

Career highlights

2003 – Operation Viking Hammer In 2003, while director of the CTG, Talabani played a leading role in Operation Viking Hammer against the Ansar al-Islam terrorist organization, recognized as a major threat to Kurdistan's national security. The operation's success led to the permanent expulsion of Ansar al-Islam from the Kurdistan Region.

2017 – Leadership battle in the PUK In 2017, after the founder and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani, died, a struggle for the leadership of the party ignited between Sheikh Lahur and Jalal's son Bafel Talabani. At the PUK's fourth congress in December 2019, Sheikh Lahur received the most votes for the General Leadership Council, and in a compromise, he and Bafel were proclaimed co-presidents. Instead, Bafel shut down a media outlet close to Sheikh Lahur and ousted several important commanders from the counter-terrorism and intelligence units of the PUK, who were seen as affiliates of his opponent. Shortly after, Bafel was declared the sole leader of the party. In November, Sheikh Lahur was expelled from the PUK along with some others and Bafel took full control of the party's finances. Sheikh Lahur filed a lawsuit against the expulsion.

In February 2023, a court in Erbil ruled that the ouster of Sheikh Lahur from the co-presidency contradicted PUK's internal regulations and reinstated him. However, a day later on February 21 the judicial authority for Iraqi elections in Baghdad declared Bafel Talabani the sole leader of the PUK.

2024 – Founding the People's Front After his ousting from the PUK, Sheikh Lahur proceeded to work on founding his own party, the People's Front, Several former members of Sheikh Lahur's wing of the PUK also joined him in the People's Front.

At around 4:10 a.m. local time, armed clashes broke out between Sheikh Lahur’s supporters and security personnel at the Lalezar Hotel, where he was staying, with the fighting lasting several hours before Sheikh Lahur surrendered. His brother, Polad (also Bolad) Sheikh Jangi, was injured in the leg during the clashes and was also taken into custody.

Following the incident, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir called for restraint, urging all parties to avoid further escalation in order to preserve stability in the region.

Personal life Sheikh Lahur is married and has two sons and a daughter. He has five brothers and two sisters, and is the nephew of Celal Talebanî. Fluent in Kurdish, English, Turkish, Arabic, and Persian, Sheikh Lahur has a strong interest in ancient history and enjoys painting. He is an avid football fan and supports Liverpool F.C.